On Nov 6, 3:12 pm, "Graeme" wrote:

As for "giving" Karpov a rematch clause (which is obviously *an*
advantage, though not as big as an advantage as making the challenger
win by 2), the reason for this seems to have been forgotten also. It
wasn't given to him, it was traded to him. Karpov was reticent to play
an unlimited match and wanted the old Best of 24 system. He agreed,
however, to play an unlmited match in exchange for a rematch clause,
which Ed Edmondson himself helped negotiate for him. Apparently, Ed
wanted as much of Fischer's match conditions to survive as possible,
and rightly considered the unlimited match system to be the core of it.

Graeme, this is quite interesting, and frankly not known to me until
now. I'm a bit unclear on a few things. May I ask:

1) When did the negotiations you describe take place? Are you
referring to Fischer-Karpov negotiations circa 1974-75, or
Karpov-Korchnoi negotiations circa 1977-78?
2) If the former, why would Karpov be the one granted the rematch?
Traditionally, that has been solely the privilege of a defeated
champion, not a defeated challenger, which Karpov would have been had
he played Fischer and lost in 1975.
3) If the latter, are you saying Edmonson negotiated on Karpov's or
Korchnoi's behalf? Sounds strange. How did Edmondson get involved in
negotiations where neither party was American? With Fischer retired,
why would Edmonson care about preserving Fischer's match conditions?