Chess master seeks asylum

Press, 29 July 1976, Page 8

Chess master seeks asylum

NZPA-Reuter Amsterdam The Russian chess grandmaster, Viktor Korchnoi, went to the Amsterdam police headquarters on Tuesday and asked for political asylum, according to a police spokesman. The spokesman said Korchnoi, aged 45, called at the Amsterdam police aliens department and asked for political asylum in Holland. “His request has been passed on to the Justice Ministry for study. Mr Korchnoi is staying at a secret address while his request is being handled,” the spokesman isaid. I A Justice Ministry spokesman said a decision on a request for asylum normally took about 14 days. Korchnoi finished joint iwinner with Britain’s grand

■ master, Tony Miles, in the 15-round 1.8. M. grand masters’ chess tournament in Amsterdam last Saturday. Korchnoi lost to Karpov in the world challengers’ final in 1974 for the chance to plav Bobby Fischer. The American chess star later withdrew from the international chess scene and gave up the world title by default. After the match with Karpov. Korchnoi claimed the jwin had been irregular. He was severely criticised for this in the Soviet press, and later admitted that he had been wrong and was reconciled with Karpov and the iSoviet Chess Union. The crux of Korchnoi’s ■ complaint was not clearly ■ known in Amsterdam. Korchnoi’s wife is still in I the Soviet Union. They have ino children.