ACourier-Post Camden, New Jersey Wednesday, March 24, 1965 - Page 9
Former World Champion Retires
Mikhail Botvinnik says he has retired from competition for the world title, at least for the present. He refused to compete this year for the right to challenge his Soviet compatriot and current champion, Tigran Petrosian, who won the crown from him in 1963, because he objects to the International Chess Federation's “policy on matters involved in the world's championship, in particular the annulment of the traditional right of the beaten world champion to a return match.” Under a new federation rule a former champion no longer has the automatic right to a return match, but must compete for it in a series of elimination matches.
The 53-year-old Botvinnik is the first champion in history to pass up the chance to regain the title—which he has held three times. He says he will still take part in other tournaments.
This means two of the world's greatest players will not participate in the championship eliminations which start in April. America's Bobby Fischer, our outstanding star, like Botvinnik objects to some ICF rulings and procedures, and also has kept out of recent tournaments in this country, for reasons best known to himself.
