AThe Berkshire Eagle Pittsfield, Massachusetts Thursday, August 12, 1965 - Page 2
Fischer Refuses Castro's Gambit In Chess Tourney
New York — Bobby Fischer, youthful United States chess champion, yesterday said he will not participate in the Capablanca international chess tournament in Havana unless Cuban Premier Fidel Castro retracts claims of a “propagandistic victory.”
The State Department had refused Fischer a visa for travel to the tournament on the grounds he was not a bona fide journalist or businessman with interests there. It had then been expected that Fischer would play by telephone or wire, and Castro made his claim of a propaganda coup over the United States.
Fischer sent a telegram to Castro yesterday announcing his withdrawal.
“I shall re-enter tournament only if you send immediate cable assuring me that you and your government seek and claim no political benefit from my participation and that no further political comments will issue from you concerning my participation.”
