Imprisoned chess genius to be freed: Supporters

Supporters of jailed former world chess champion Bobby Fischer said today that the Japanese Justice Ministry has informed them that he will be allowed to leave tomorrow for Iceland, where he has been granted citizenship.

John Bosnitch of the Committee to Free Bobby Fischer said ministry officials told the chess legend’s supporters that Fischer would be allowed to leave his immigration detention centre north of Tokyo.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether ministry officials would escort the American to Tokyo’s international airport at Narita.

Bosnitch said the ministry gave no reason for its decision.

“We’ve been in touch with officials,” Bosnitch said. ”He’ll be released tomorrow.”

The US where Fischer is wanted for violating sanctions against former Yugoslavia by playing a chess match there in 1992 – has said it was disappointed by Iceland’s move and reiterated that Washington wanted Fischer handed over.

Fischer has been held in Japan since July, when he was arrested for travelling on what US officials said was an invalid passport.