FIDE President Campomanes stopped the match
Kasparov: “When I won two victories in a row, the ground beneath the champion’s feet trembled. The chess authorities were suddenly faced with the frightening prospect that I might conceivably win. The ‘corpse’ had not merely come to life it was scrambling to its feet. Was the unthinkable about to happen? They couldn’t risk the possibility…”
On February 13, following the request by the USSR chess Federation to have a three month suspension of the match, citing concerns about the health of the players, FIDE President Campomanes asked a (unlimited) time-out. “TO: FIDE President Mr. Campomanes
Taking into consideration the unprecedented duration of the World Chess Match between A. Karpov and G. Kasparov, which now has exceeded 5 months with 48 games played e. g. two full time matches as per the old regulations, the Soviet Chess Federation-expressing worry about health status of the players – requests a 3-month suspension of the match.
As it is known, the terms of the unlimited match Fischer vs. Karpov in 1976 contained provision for the break after 4 months of continuous game. This provision had been included on the basis of opinion by medical experts. But the duration of the match Karpov vs. Kasparov – as it was mentioned above – is longer and the match is still underway.
May we note also, that proposal to suspend the match does not contradict both FIDE Regulations and the regulation of the match; we believe, that the world chess community will accept this proposal with satisfaction by the world chess community.
Your positive decision will contribute into further development of chess creativity.”
The next day, Campomanes and Gligoric YUG visited Kasparov to discuss Sevastianov’s letter. Kasparov’s response was that either Karpov should abandon the match or the match should continue. Momedov, chief of Kasparov delegation, was informed the same evening that the match was to be stopped.
On February 15 during the press conference where only Kasparov was attended, Campomanes reads the following statement:
“I declare that the match is ended without decision. There will be a new match that will start from scratch – the score at 0-0 – on 1 September 1985. The two players consent. The next FIDE Congress in August shall determine further necessary match provisions. The winner of that match will be the world champion for the period 1985-1986.”
Campomanes stated that he had been with Karpov just before the conference and that Karpov wanted to continue the match on Monday, the next scheduled playing day. Campomanes further stated that Kasparov was also not happy with the decision to stop the match.
Then Karpov arrived and confirmed that he preferred to continue the match immediately. Kasparov was invited to speak and asked Campomanes why he was stopping the match if both players preferred to continue.
President Campomanes replied that he would take advantage of having both players in the same room to hold a private conversation with both of them at the same time. Kasparov declared immediately that he would prefer to continue. Karpov declared that he was also ready to play on Monday
The principles, less Kasparov, retired to another room to discuss the continuation. Kasparov changed his mind and joined them afterwards. The participants prepared an agreement that the match would be interrupted. Karpov signed, but Kasparov refused to sign.
There follows the full text of the amazing confrontation between the FIDE President, the players and the world’s press. The transcript comes from tapes supplied by Cable News Network and published in the book Manoeuvres in Moscow b Ray Keene and David Goodman.
Moderator: The floor is given to our esteemed President, President of FIDE, Mr Campomanes.
of the game, when both players want to play, benefit the sport?
CAMPOMANES: I’ll only answer one of your questions — the other has been answered. The USSR Chess Federation agrees with my decision.
QUESTIONER (Richard Owen, Moscow Correspondent of The Times):
Mr Campomanes, I just wonder how you respond to suggestions from qualified commentators such as Raymond Keene that if Mr Karpov is unable to stand the pressure after six months he should have resigned his title given that chess is not only a matter of skill and moves but also of psychological pressure and a matter of endurance over a period of time — and also given that Mr Kasparov doesn’t look like a man who is psychologically or physically shattered? (laughter from audience)
CAMPOMANES: First of all, you quote Mr Keene. What is the date of that thinking?
QUESTIONER: He made this remark in my newspaper, The Times, two days ago.
CAMPOMANES: I was with Mr Keene four and a half days ago in Dubai and we had thrown this back and forward over good red wine and then I was on the phone again with him two nights ago — he’s back in England. And Mr Keene is a Grandmaster of England, your second, and he is entitled to this opinion and that’s what makes FIDE such a jolly family — we agree to disagree.
QUESTIONER (Tass): What is the most efficient regulation system of the match?
CAMPOMANES: That’s a good question (laughter from audience). If! may remind your memory, your good servant was the organiser for the Philippine Chess Federation of the 1978 World Championship match. At the time we thought it was such a long match and I can assure you I can understand here how the organising committee here feels — because I thought at the end of 93 days I was ready to collapse and now this is more than 150 days. But the regulations served that championship, the regulations served the championship in Merano, but as I keep telling my close associates the fact that it has lasted this long is not the fault of the regulations. The regulations may be well and good, but happily — I say happily — the excellence of the players has reached such a level that they have discovered the secret of how to draw, to minimise to the barest of minimums the risk of losing. It is the excellence of present-day chess. If there is anyone one can fault it is the particular excellence that has contributed to the length of the match — forty draws, unheard of in previous matches. So the regulations being the product of human considerations cannot expect to fulfil all situations. That is why there is present in these regulations that somebody has to be personally and officially responsible to look at the events from all standpoints, and hope to goodness he makes the right decision.
QUESTIONER (Sovietsky Sport): How does he explain the situation that has arisen during the match, for clarification — but you have made an assessment of the match?
CAMPOMANES (after consulting a Soviet officialfor further clar
Ah yes! Thank you very much, it is a good question. We have reached a junction where we have technically two times the size of the match of the previous regulation —24 games. This is 48 games, it is a good junction to pause and give thought. That is why I saw the need to take action — because from here on what do you use —72 games? Anything can happen when the match shall have lasted that long. I don’t envy the press people themselves. I remember the first days and all the bustle of activity in the press centre. Before I went to Dubai I visited the press centre. It didn’t look like the local morgue (he laughs) but there were very much less people in the press centre. You do get tired yourselves.
QUESTIONER: You said that the players have discovered the secret of how to draw, but you arrived here just when Mr Kasparov seemed to have discovered the secret of how to win. Doesn’t this give the impression that you came at the last moment to save Mr Karpov?
CAMPOMANES: Saving him from himself? No. I have been giving thought to this much earlier. From the point of the 32nd game I began thinking of this. I recall Baguio was 32 games and I needed more input and I had been called away on trips requiring my attention. All of this began to jell when we were talking very much about this in Athens and I had received all kinds of telephone calls from chess leaders all round the world. 24 times two is 48. This is an excellent junction to take stock independent of what you call the trend of the match — because like all trends doing the stock market, which goes up and down, you never know when it will take a nose-dive.
QUESTIONER: I just want to know how you feel personally about the decision given that both players say they want to continue the match?
CAMPOMANES: Yes, lady. My decision was taken equally for both players. You can’t expect to please everybody, or even anybody. Up till that moment I didn’t know. I have to live with myself and I sleep very well.
QUESTIONER (Sovietsky Sport): Another question about the regulations. So far twenty-nine matches have been played, the biggest one of 34 games. The system seemed to be appropriate — all the chess public approved of that system. Why was that system changed? And what system do you consider the most optimal?
CAMPOMANES: I believe I alluded to that indirectly earlier. Any regulation is used – it is the proof of the pudding that counts. When it is applied, given the circumstances, some regulations function well and others falter or fail, and moreover this is the prerogative eventually of the conference of FIDE to which I must defer. They formulate the regulations, starting with the committees and end with a unanimous vote or a show of hands. Regulations are only regulations. People make them; circum stances affect them.
QUESTIONER: I would like to ask just one question — which you alluded to earlier. There have been more specific reports on some of the wire services recently that Mr Karpov was on the verge of a psychological breakdown, (at this point Campomanes smiled and rose) that he was exhausted and so forth. Would you address yourself to those — that he was in a hospital bed?
CAMPOMANES (standing and having taken the microphone): You asked the question at the very right time — Mr Karpov is there behind you, now just arrived.
(From the back of the hail Karpov said in Russian “I want to make a statement”. As he walked to the stage there was loud applause from the audience. Gligoric gave up his seat and Karpov shook hands with a smiling Campomanes and with the Foreign Ministry man at the press conference. Karpov sat down next to Campomanes.)
KARPOV: I must tell you, as we Russians say, the rumours about my death were a bit exaggerated.
CAMPOMANES: Anatoly, I just told him about that.
KARPOV: And I consider that we can and we ought to continue the match — and the proposal to end it and start from scratch, I do not agree with it (applause from audience). I consider that on Monday February 18 we should start, or rather resume and continue our match. I think Kasparov will second my proposal and there should be no problem at all (applause).
CAMPOMANES (smiling): Gentlemen, now you know what I told you earlier was true. I have a verification right here in the friend — in the person – of the World Champion. I have mentioned this to you and now Mr Kasparov will know that I now told you the truth.
KARPOV: I think we should invite Kasparov here (with a hand gesture). FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN: But the decision is taken.
CAMPOMANES: Gary, you want to come and say your piece?
(Kasparov tried to speak from the audience, but could nor be heard without a microphone and started towards the podium. As Kasparov walked down the stairs, Campomanes could clearly be heard on the tape to say:)
CAMPOMANES: I told them exactly what you told me to tell them.*
KARPOV: We.. . we, but I don’t accept this.
(Kasparov arrived at the podium to much applause as Campomanes talked with Sevastianov)
KASPAROV: I want to ask Mr President one question — what all that show is for? Mr President, I shall explain what I mean. You said you have come here 25 minutes after your talk with the Champion and he was against breaking the match. You knew my point of view too — that I was also objecting to ending or suspending the match with technical time-outs. Nevertheless, you came here and declared your point of view that, despite all those objections, the game is ended. What do we need it for? Twenty-five minutes ago you were speaking with Karpov and now suddenly such a divergence. Will you tell us, or at least me?
CAMPOMANES: I personally believe that what I was doing was in the best interests. But the players are only one part of this situation. Now, however . . . (after some hesitation) however, I am in a very happy position right now. I am in a position that I couldn’t have wished for better. If the two players are willing to play to the very end (laughter from audience) I will consider in a conversation with the two of them alone because I have long demanded this situation to happen and I have not been able to get it, because Mr Karpov is not available, Mr Kasparov is not available, and I tried to get them. As a matter of fact, as late as last night I tried to get them together, but Mr Kasparov is sleeping — Mr Karpov has been often times in accordance with the meeting schedule. Now we have it. Now I want to talk with both of you (applause). Let’s have ten minutes inside.
(Karpov and Campomanes stood up. Campomanes held out both his arms in a gesture to the audience. Simultaneously, Kasparov held out his hand, palm forward, to make a stop sign.)
KASPAROV: Give me the floor. I want to make known my declaration. The President’s profession is to speak. My trade is to play chess. That is why I am not going to compete with him on the podium—first. (speaking very quickly and angrily) Second, I want to say what I think. I don’t intend to demand a continuation because I’m convinced I shall win very easily because the Champion feels unwell. He’s here, he can proceed, we can see it. But for the first time in five months I have certain chances, let’s say about 25% or 30%, and now they are trying to deprive me of those chances by the numerous delays — and let those who delayed the match be responsible. The match should continue — I have been speaking about it two weeks ago — without time-outs, without intervals, but it is being prolonged. With each delay his chances are growing while mine are diminishing (applause), FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN: The Press Conference is over.
(much laughter from audience, and after a few seconds’ thought lie said:) If the President considers it appropriate to continue
CAMPOMANES: If Mr Kasparov refuses to have a huddle with me I cannot change the decision. With me and Mr Karpov — as clear as that. The decision stands if the two do not sit down and talk about it and shake on it.
(Karpov walked back)
KARPOV: I can make my own statement.
CAMPOMANES (to Karpov): You play today?
KARPOV: No.
CAMPOMANES: Monday? KARPOV. Monday.
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN: It’s better to have a rest.
KARPOV: I think we can make a sort of break now for everybody to calm down (applause). And after the interval announce the final decision.
CAMPOMANES: A break of ten minutes.
(Final statement, after a one-hour interval)
CAMPOMANES: This is more than just Solomon dilemma, it is a Gordian knot put on top of it. The World Champion accepts the decision of the President and the Challenger abides by the decision of the President. In the course of the meeting! have appreciated the thinking of the World Champion who feels very strongly that he deserves, or has a right to, a return match after the new match. I have appreciated likewise the strong wish of the Challenger that the provisions for the next match be ascertained fully since he felt that leaving it hanging in Congress or for the decision of the FIDE Congress in September, in August, is not the most suitable arrangement for him. The Congress of FIDE shall take place in Graz, Vienna, in Graz, Austria, and will end before the match begins. It may be the same day the match begins. I have committed myself to the two players to make this known to Congress and I add on my own, not only to Congress, but to the leadership of the 122 Federations of FIDE, that in accepting on the part of the World Champion and abiding on the part of the Challenger to this decision they have made fully known their thinking on these matters. I thank you.