On the events happened early the year Kramnik reacted in an interview published in Shakhmatnaya Nedelya» (No 7, 13.2.2003).
(…) The FIDE has taken an obligation in Prague to establish a professional structure in charge of holding world championships. However, nothing has been done: the FIDE is not going to part even with a tiniest fraction of its power. Neither of the obligations that the FIDE pledged to in Prague was fulfilled though more than half a year has elapsed. (…) I witnessed the methods used by the FIDE in Wijk aan Zee and just wondered. The FIDE must alter something in its structure, replace people and change the mentality. A straightforward pressure was applied on Ponomariov which is absolutely unwarrantable! I am not in the know of all particulars but most probably I would have behaved myself in a similar way being in Ponomariov’s shoes. When one sees that all terms are dictated by your adversary in the world championship match and that all organising structure also takes his side, everybody would hate it. I believe this to be the main reason why the problems with the match originated. One can as well understand the FIDE when it apparently prefers one of the adversaries. But is it necessary to demonstrate it so visibly? (…) It is quite evident that the FIDE needs its own champion, and either Ponomariov or somebody else is obsolete. Still, the FIDE is an international organisation and we wish it were definitely objective. I do not know who is right and who is wrong. Maybe, everything happens through no fault of Kasparov and it is just the FIDE officials who wish to oblige him. (…) As far as now two parallel cycles are in progress. “Einstein’s» task is to hold my match with Leko, and it will be held surely. Afterwards, it will be possible to talk about some consolidation. Nowadays we are absolutely not bound to each other. (…) It is likely that the match Ponomariov – Kasparov is in the pending category. As far as I grasped it, in Wijk aan Zee there were some talks with Ivanchuk about his match against Kasparov. With all due respect to Ivanchuk, who is an absolutely fantastic chess player, it all looks absurd: why the world championship match is to be played between Kasparov and Ivanchuk who have not been selected and hold no titles? We may just as well have the match Anand – Topalov, and why not?! The main trouble with the FIDE is that it does not follow clear rules. Everything gets mixed. The FIDE begins to act not as the worldwide professional chess body but as a private sponsor keen to see this or that match (…) Should the match Kasparov – Ponomariov or any other cycle of the FIDE world championship struggle with the participation of these players do not occur (it is worthwhile to invite also Anand who is now in a wonderful shape and several other grandmasters), it might result, regrettably, in the end of all consolidation process. Certainly, any contestant can be appointed but it will be a fiction. To say nothing about the fact that no basic condition of the Prague agreement has been fulfilled, but if even this would not happen?! Everything that had happened until now is frightening. Exclusion of Ponomariov from the world championship is just ridiculous as it would mean the dead failure of the FIDE.
As did Anand to an Indian reporter: I think the only acceptable solution is to take the process all the way, I mean, if Kasparov plays Ponomariov than there should be a match with Einstein people and there should be a unification match and we should have one World Champion again otherwise there is no need to have Kasparov-Ponomariov match if it does not lead to unification.
Chess Journalist Mig Greegard quoted Kasporov in an article publish in February 2003:
(…) ‘So what are we supposed to do, wait forever?’ Kasparov began. ‘Einstein wants to postpone the Kramnik-Leko match until when, 2004? Never? We are supposed to start the second cycle this year! These players who signed an open letter complaining about the Grand Prix, what about the World Championship? And the Prague unification agreements were in part to support the classical time control and now Ponomariov is holding everything up because he wants to play the rapid control. The players who signed that letter were there with Ponomariov, they should talk to him instead of writing letters to FIDE!” To be fair, they also complained about the world championship, in a vague way. The strangest thing about Ponomariov’s demands (draw odds, fast time control) is that he is making demands at all! (…) Instead, the 19-year-old has a big-money match against the world number one and an inside chance at winning the first unified title in 10 years. How do you say, «no-brainer» in Ukrainian? (…) As for Einstein and Kramnik-Leko, I’m hoping to hear from them instead of speculating. (…) Kramnik is the world champion, but I don’t think the chess fan in the street would argue with the winner of a Kasparov-Ponomariov match, especially if the next cycle is started promptly.
On February 14, 2003, FIDE published on his website the following Press Release:
World Champion Ponomariov to Defend His Title Against Kasparov Following a meeting with FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in his Moscow office Wednesday, World Chess Champion Ruslan Ponomariov reaffirmed his willingness to defend his title against World no 1 rated player Garry Kasparov under the Match Regulations as approved by the FIDE President and the Presidential Board of FIDE. The meeting which was attended by the President of the Chess Federation of the Ukraine, Mr. Victor Petrov, FIDE Executive Director Emmanuel Omuku, Assistant to the FIDE President Berik Balgabarv and Representative of the State Committee of Physical Culture and Sport of the Ukraine, Mr. Leonid Timoshenko saw both the FIDE President and the World Champion reviewing the principles of the Prague Agreement and the unification matches for the World Championship. President Ilyumzhinov commended World Champion Ponomariov for his suggestions regarding his upcoming match with Kasparov as well as his proposals regarding the unification match between the winner of his match with Grandmaster Kasparov and the winner of the Kramnik – Leko match, as well as the post unification cycle of the World Championship.
Yasser Seirawan, the “father” of the reunification process commented the situation to M. Golubev.
“The road to unity in chess has been very difficult, requiring the goodwill of all parties concerned. As expected, problems have hampered the effort, yet I remain hopeful that it will succeed. First, we should put World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov’s position in perspective: on the one hand he is very fortunate that the effort to unify the chess world has occurred ‘on his watch’. Without the unity effort, he would face being placed in Round One of the next FIDE World Knock-Out Championship. While he could be expected to win a handsome prize, mathematically, his chance to repeat his performance as World Champion is very slim. Indeed, it is the randomness of the format that I and others have criticized, that paved the way to the new double-elimination format proposed by GM Khalifman in Prague. Being ‘forced’ to play a World Championship match for a one million dollar prize fund against the World’s best-known player, Garry Kasparov, is quite a fortunate happenstance. On the other hand, as World Champion, Ruslan has certain rights. He is putting his title at stake ahead of his expected challenge of a December 2003 Knockout event. If he were to lose the match to Kasparov, he would no longer be World Champion and would lose certain commercial advantages. Ruslan therefore felt quite justified in making certain demands. I was fearful that the draw-odds and time-control demands would be insurmountable. I was therefore quite relieved to read that Ruslan and FIDE President Kirsan Iljumzhinov were able to meet and overcome these differences. I’ve also read that this match is to take place in Buenos Aires during a timeframe and for a prize-fund formula suitable for Ruslan. So both parties compromised and I congratulate Ruslan and Kirsan for making their effort. As a chess fan, I look forward to an exciting Ponomariov versus Kasparov match! Regarding the Kramnik versus Leko, Classical Chess World Championship match, I don’t have any information. I’ve read that two cities are being considered but little else. The Prague Agreement envisioned two World Championship matches in the May 2003 time frame and a unification match in October 2003, completing the first cycle. This would be followed by a Knockout tournament in December 2003 for new challengers to emerge in a second cycle. If the Kramnik – Leko match gets postponed there will be too many practical problems to overcome and the possibility of unity in 2003 will simply slip away. So, a mixed picture. A lot of time has passed since Prague and I would have liked to have seen much more progress made. Yes, the whole chess world paid a price for uniting the chess world. Whether one likes the FIDE Knockout tournament or not, the format had the huge advantage of confirming a World Champion at its conclusion within a very short period of time. While grandmasters will be able to compete for the FIDE World Championship Title in 2003, the process of Candidate Matches means that 2005 is the earliest date for a grandmaster other than Ponomariov, Kramnik, Kasparov or Leko to be crowned. That is indeed quite a price to pay. Yet at the end of the day, it is absolutely imperative for sponsors, organizers, players and fans that unity is achieved so that chess can grow.”
Scheduled for June 2003 in Argentina but cancelled because of the impossibility to meet financial deadline, the match was postponed. Ponomariov answered questions to journalists at a press conference somewhere in Ukraine:
Ponomariov: I was very well prepared for my match with Kasparov and thought I had good chances to win against the Russian [Kasparov]. Unfortunately at the last moment FIDE announced the postponment of the match till the Fall. I find this decision more than strange. I think an internatonal federation should bear full responsibility for the cancelation of the match because too much of my energy and time had been spent preparing for it. And just when I was at the peak of my form, some bureaucratic decision essentially meant that all my work was wasted.
Q: What responsibility should FIDE carry?
A: Speaking in legal terms we are talking about both moral and financial damages. There were no force-majeur circumstances for the postponment of the match. We prepared an official letter specifying all our concerns in this matter.
Q: How do you estimate the financial damage?
A: $150,000.
Q: Have you received any explanation regarding the postponment?
A: Only general remarks about the currently unstable economic situation in the world. Then they (FIDE) tried to put all the blame on the Argentinian organizers, with whom they could not agree about the conditions of the match. But on the 12th of February during the signing of the agreement in Moscow, and then once again in March during the FIDE Council in Bucharest FIDE officials assured us that all organizational problems had been solved.
Q: Could it be that the Argentinian organizers let FIDE down by first declaring their readiness and then announcing that they could not collect the requruired amount?
A: Well, in general, under the guidelines of FIDE, any candidate for the organization of the match should first present bank guarantees and calculate the budget of the match, as well as present exact sources of financial backing. I think these procedures were observed when FIDE chose Argentina.
Q: Have you recently spoken to Ilumzhinov personally?
A: Last time I spoke with Ilumzhinov was on February 12 in Moscow. After that he never replied to my written questions, and all the documentation I had received was signed by his executive director Omuku. All that despite the fact that we agreed in Bucharest that we were going to sign the official protocol regarding my participation in the Buenos Aires match. In general, I think Ilumzhinov has shown great disrespect towards me. I, the FIDE champion, personally direct my questions to him, yet the answers come from his aides. Even the president of the Ukraine finds time to personally meet with me because he understands how important the title of world champion is for me and the country as a whole.
Q: How did recent events change your calendar?
A: After the tournament in Leon I was planning to fly directly to Argentina to get used to the climate. Now there is total confusion. I am not aware of an exact date of my match with Kasparov. FIDE said either October or November, and that the venue will be not Buenos Aires, but more likely the capital of Uruguay – Montevideo. Under these circumstances it’s impossible to create a meaningful preparation plan for me. I must be at the peak of my form when I play Kasparov.
Q: What is more important for you – unification of chess or the match exactly with Kasparov?
A: I spent too much time and effort on my preparation and now must prove that I can a worthy opponent to Kasparov.
After Buenos Aire’s withdrawal, the match was finally announced in Yalta, Ukraine starting September 13. However difficulties remained until the last minutes with Ponomariov refusing to sign the final contract for his participation.
Anand and some other grandmasters were voicing against delays and uncertainty
Q: Mr. Anand you have regretted that “politics has taken over chess”. Please tell us more about your point of view at the top.
A: Politics has been part of chess since 1993 since I can remember. I hope that there is a final silver lining. The situation is a complete mess. The chess world can’t go on like this. The last three years was a circus. We all hope that there will be an unification.
Q: Who is responsible for this mess?
A: I think the names are evident. I don’t need to take a roll call. Till there is a World Championship cycle this issue is not in my interest to discuss. Because of the prevailing world economic condition it is tough to get sponsors and people are still trying to hold three World Championship matches. And the end result is that you don’t have a single marketable person.
The time limit announced for August 25 was not meet then on August 26 FIDE gives its world champion Ruslan Ponomariov, Ukraine, a formal deadline: either sign and fax an agreement to the conditions for the FIDE title match against Garry Kasparov, scheduled for September 18th in the Ukrainian city of Yalta, or be disqualified. On , August 27 in a press conference in Moscow Garry Kasparov stated that he had found “numerous dubious points and inaccuracies” in the FIDE contract. He said he had listed them in five pages in a letter to FIDE before signing the contract. However, then he agreed to compromise in order to “avoid more complications in the complicated chess world”. Kasparov said also that thanks to the Prague unity agreement Ponomariov had received extraordinary privilegies compared to other FIDE World Champions (Anand and Khalifman). He had gone directly to a final match with a $450,000 guaranteed prize fund, instead of $4,000 for the 1st round of a knock-out tournament with 128 players. Kasparov said that the present impasse was very unfortunate because the Yalta match was a vital step for the unification of world chess. “Ponomariov has already missed three deadlines from FIDE, and tomorrow is another deadline…we expect FIDE to act decisively because the situation is no longer a joke.”
FIDE said some of Ponomariov’s demands were acceptable but warned that it could replace him with another player if he fails to meet the deadline. Among the names being mooted are Ponomariov’s compatriot Vasily Ivanchuk, whom he beat in a best-of-eight final in Moscow to take the title last year, and India’s Viswanathan Anand.
On August 28 1:00h: Ruslan Ponomariov sent a letter to FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, still insisting on his four proposals and inviting representatives of FIDE, the Organising committee and G.Kasparov’s team to meet in Kiev and “to obviate all the obstacles for Yalta match”. The letter was signed by GM Silvio Danailov, Ponomariov’s manager. There was no official reaction of FIDE.
Denis Bulinov of World Chess Ratings writes: “The attitude of Ponomariov’s team looks really strange. “Four proposals” are irrelevant if compare to their previous demands (to keep the title in case of draw, financial claims etc) but Danailov & Co stand for them with astonishing inflexibility. Meanwhile Ponomariov didn’t make any public appearance for several weeks and our source reports that FIDE people didn’t have a chance even to talk to him by phone…”
FIDE’s reaction came on August 29 with the fatal decision:
PRESS RELEASE
Re : Cancellation of the Ponomariov-Kasparov Match
FIDE delivered the Players Undertaking to World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov and Grandmaster Garry Kasparov, to sign before August 12, 2003. Kasparov returned his duly signed contract before the deadline but Ponomariov signed the contract with reservations.
At the Presidential Board held in Abuja, Nigeria, FIDE reiterated that the contract shall be signed without reservations and extended the deadline to August 25, 2003. FIDE again extended the deadline to August 28, 2003. Without the signature of Ponomariov on the Players Undertaking, FIDE is unable to move ahead with the planned Match which was due to start on September 18, 2003 in Yalta, Ukraine.
Since the signing of the Prague Agreement, FIDE has tried patiently to meet with the recommendations of the players involved. However, as the governing body of world chess, FIDE will not give in to unreasonable request or pressure from any player involved in the unification process.
In place of the FIDE World Cup earlier scheduled for December 2003 FIDE shall organize the World Chess Championship (Knockout) Tournament to determine the next World Champion and FIDE shall not allow the selfishness of any one player to cause a hindrance to the unification process as already scheduled and approved by the FIDE General Assembly in Bled last year.
It is with deep regret therefore, that FIDE has to cancel the Ponomariov-Kasparov Match. However, FIDE shall endeavour to proceed with the unification process. A proposal shall be placed to the forthcoming FIDE Congress in Halkidiki, Greece, 27 October – 3 November, 2003. The winner of the FIDE World Championship in December 2003 shall be crowned World Champion and he shall play Grandmaster Garry Kasparov next year. The winner of this match shall then play the final unification match.
During the press conference following the announcement, the FIDE president said that there will be no further disciplinary action against Ponomariov. He will keep his title until the next championship and will be able to defend it at the board. “Ruslan has already punished himself”, said Ilyumzhinov.
The “Classical” knock-out championship will most likely take place in Ukraine. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed his gratitude to Ukrainian President Kuchma and Prime Minister Yanukovich for their attention to chess issues. Ilyumzhinov also acknowledged the Russian oil concern Tatneft, which already has transferred $100,000 for the knock-out world championship.
G. Kasparov unhappy answered to the question regarding the cancellation: “I am shocked. I expected my opponent to try my nerves, expecting various provocations. However, I could not imagine that my opponent would simply escape! I suffered moral damage, and my material damage is comparable to the prize fund of the match. For half a year I had to decline various invitations and I invested a lot of time and money into the preparation for Ponomariov.”