The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Wednesday, July 28, 1976 - Page 2
Soviet Chess Master Seeks Asylum in Amsterdam, Goes Into Hiding
— Bela Korchnoi, who was at home in Leningrad, told a reporter by telephone she had had no idea her husband did not plan to return from the tournament.
“What can I say? Life goes on.” she said, when asked about future plans.
The couple has a 17-year-old son, Igor.
…
Dutch officials say they did not know his reasons for leaving, but Korchnoi was known to be in disfavor in the Soviet sports world because he has criticized Karpov.
In the world challengers final in 1974, Korchnoi lost to Karpov for a chance to play Bobby Fischer of the United States, then the world champion. After the 3-2 loss, Korchnoi told an interviewer Karpov had an “extremely poor chess arsenal.”
He also endorsed Fischer's demands for changes in international chess rules at a time when Soviet officials were attacking those demands.
He was censured by the Soviet Chess Federation, which accused him of making “ill-considered and self-promoting statements.” Korchnoi eventually recanted, and, after six months of hibernation, returned to the international circuit. He has since refrained from expressing his independent views.
