The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, December 31, 1961
Interzonal Tourney In Doubt; Help Needed
The cold war has interfered with chess tournaments in the past year, due to difficulties in players obtaining visas. This problem has now arisen with the interzonal tournament, the next step in the cycle to determine a contender for the world chess championship.
The tournament was originally scheduled for last fall in Holland. The Dutch Federation refused to go on with it, however, when a visa was refused to the East German representative.
Folke Rogard of Stockholm, president of the International Chess Federation, tried both sides of the Iron Curtain. After considerable negotiation he was turned down by both Moscow and Madrid after both cities had shown some interest.
As a last resort Rogard is now attempting to organize the tournament in neutral Stockholm. This means raising a sizeable fund at short notice. Rogard has notified all national federations that the entrance fee per player, first set at a nominal $37.50, will have to be $375.
The United States has qualified three players, champion Bobby Fischer, William Lombardy and Raymond Weinstein. The total entrance fees needed are $1,125. The American Chess Foundation has agreed to pay the traveling expenses of the players, but the entrance fees must be raised by public subscription.
The tournament is tentatively set to start on Jan. 27, so time is short. Anyone interested in contributing to this cause should make his check payable to INTERZONAL FUND and send it to Chess Editor, Los Angeles Times. A full accounting will be made by the U.S. Chess Federation in its magazine Chess Life.
