AThe Times Herald Port Huron, Michigan Monday, April 07, 1975 - Page 2
New Chess Champion Called 'Little Mouse'
New York (AP) — The executive director of the United States Chess Club says Anatoly Karpov's comments after being named the new chess champion of the world show the Russian is an unsportsman-like “little mouse” who is “whistling in relief” because he did not have to play against Bobby Fischer.
Edmund B. Edmondson said it was “utterly ridiculous grandstanding” for Karpov to say he was ready to play Fischer, but at the same time question whether the American was now “mentally capable of playing chess.”
The title passed from Fischer to Karpov last week without a match being played. This followed this American's refusal to play the Russian under conditions set by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Edmondson said Sunday in a telephone interview from his Newburgh, N.Y. home that “next to the genius of Fischer, Karpov's talent is that of a dull, plodding student rather than that of a true world champion.
“Why didn't this little mouse roar like a lion when it might have taunted Mister Fischer into playing?” Edmondson said, referring to Karpov. “Why does he only speak when it's too late? It's typical Soviet sportsmanship—be sure to kick the man when he's down.”
Karpov's challenge to Fischer was reported in Belgrade by FIDE Vice President Bozidar Kazic, chess editor of the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug, after a telephone interview with the Russian.
“It is hard for me to tell how strong he is, but I am not convinced that he can play chess now, that he is capable of doing it at this moment,” Karpov was quoted as saying of Fischer.
The only condition Karpov set for the match was that FIDE should approve it and that Fischer was “in condition and willing to play it.”
“What we are getting now is Russian propaganda designed to convince the world that he really is a worthy champion, but in his heart Karpov knows he is not champion because he never met Fischer and defeated him,” Edmondson said.
