Euwe decided to use Arpad Elo's recent released rating list to decide the order of boards in which the players would compete. Bobby Fischer, who had the highest rating, agreed to come out of retirement to play, but when he showed up in Belgrade, the Yugoslavian organizers found Bent Larsen insisting that his recent tournament record (8 straight tournament victories in 1967-8 including a first at Winnipeg ahead of Soviet top board Spassky) justified his placement on top board ahead of Fischer (who had won only his last five tournaments). The organizers even asked Petrosian to try to help convince Larsen. Petrosian said "I like you. Let's play," but Larsen refused to give in. Suddenly, Fischer surprised everyone by agreeing to play second board, thus pairing himself against Tigran Petrosian instead of world champion Boris Spassky. Fischer also stipulated that his opponent make his move before writing it down on the score sheet, a condition to which Petrosian agreed, even though it puzzled him. Fischer regretted playing on Board 2, saying, "I ought to have my head examined!"