Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno, Nevada, Saturday, April 13, 1985 - Page 37
Checkmate off board
“In an interview with this reporter Seirawan spoke freely about his frustrations with chess politics. Why did he refuse his invitation?
“I truly wanted to play, or serve in any capacity that would help the team — even as analyst but they turned me down. In principle, board order should be worked out by players and captain, not by a vindictive selection committee that doles out funds only to those who play ball. We have a great rating system. Why not continue to use it? Our team scored more points in the previous Olympiad when it was picked purely by rating. I'm very, very bitter and extremely saddened. Now I understand why Bobby Fischer gave up chess rather than fight these power brokers.”
Fischer once accused the Russians of throwing important games to each other. Is this true?
“Absolutely true. I've seen it happen. Soviet stars know they're expected to finish behind Karpov in international events. At Tiburg in 1983, Polugaievsky tossed away an easy draw against him in a simple end game. When Boris Spassky committed the crime of finishing first ahead of Karpov in Spain, the Soviet chess federation cut off his funding to the interzonals — which is the reason Spassky finally decided to play for France in the Olympics.”