AThe Gazette Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada Saturday, November 28, 1964 - Page 46
Fischer's Gambit
I. Kashdan, captain of the USA team in the Chess Olympics at Tel Aviv, says in the Los Angeles “Times”: “Missing from the team is Bobby Fischer, undoubtedly the greatest chess genius of the age, but sadly unpredictable. Earlier this year he had agreed to play, but apparently changed his mind, without stating any reason.”
L. Barden in “Manchester Guardian” says that Bobby asked a $5,000 fee to play. There are no cash prizes in this tourney and never have been. Only medals and honors, and a trophy for the winning team. In this sense it is amateur, but there is no discrimination between amateur and pro in chess and a number of pros have been enlisted to strengthen teams in the past. Who pays their fee, if any, has never been disclosed. It was probably privately arranged. It was widely published that a $15,000 fund was being sought to send the USA team. This is far in excess of traveling expense, and with hospitality provided by the host country, what happened to the rest of the fund, if fully subscribed? However, a $5,000 fee seems much too high for any individual member.
