Game 5
Game 5 – Friday, Sept. 29
The world chess championship came to a halt when Kramnik who had been locked out of his private bathroom after insinuations that he was cheating refused to play and forfeited the fifth game of the match.
The bathrooms had been the only part of the players’ private rest areas behind the stage where they are playing that was not subject to video surveillance by the match referees.
Topalov sat down to play while Mr. Kramnik went to his private area and sat down outside his private bathroom, demanding that it be unlocked. But since the organizers refused his request and after an hour, the game was declared forfeited in Mr. Topalov’s favor. “Toiletgate”, as chess’s latest crisis will no doubt come to be called, was just starting…
Here’s a protocol of developments in the aborted game five.
15:00h: The start of the game has been delayed to settle the controversy between the two sides. 15:30h: Topalov is sitting at the board, Kramnik’s clock is running. The “game” was started at 15:22h Elista time. 15:45h: Kramnik is in his rest room, and is waiting for his toilet to open. The press conference of Makropoulos is about to start. So far it seems the game is not going to start unless the toilet is opened… 16:15h: We do not know whether the forfeit is official, but by normal rules Kramnik has lost game five on time. Kramnik appeared at the Makropoulos press conference and made a statement, saying that the Appeals committee is clearly biased. Kramnik demands replacing all members of the Appeals committee, and said he is prepared to play the fifth game of the match tomorrow, according to the rules accepted prior to the match.
17:00h local time: Chief Arbiter Geurt Gijssen confirmed that Kramnik has forfeited the 5th game.
17:45h: Kramnik appeared at the Marko’s press conference and made a statement. Here are a few exerpts from it:
“Makropolous and Azmaiparashvili are very good friends of Danailov. Their actions are clearly biased in favor of Topalov. The decision to grant Danailov full access to videotapes is incorrect and outrageous. I did not sign the contract for acting in a reality show. This goes against all ethical norms and violates my privacy.
I am ready to continue the match and play the 5th game tomorrow on the conditions that were accepted prior to the start of the match. My dignity does not allow me to stand this situation. Now I am going to return to my cottage and rest.”
17:50h: Savinov: “I have no idea how the situation will develop, but the atmosphere is very tense. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is in Sochi with Russian President Vladimir Putin right now, so he can hardly intervene…”
Chessbase
Crisis in the World Championship
The prelude
The Reunification World Championship match in Elista, Kalmykia, is in a deep crisis. It started on Thurday (the free day) with a protest by the Topalov side, claiming that the video surveillance from the rest rooms had revealed that Kramnik had been visiting the bathroom very often, which was “strange and suspicious.” The Topalov team demanded that the bathrooms in the rest areas be closed and a public toilet be used by the players, always in accompaniment of an assistant arbiter. In case the matter was not settled satisfactorily Topalov threatened to abandon the world championship match.
Veselin Topalov and his manager Silvio Danailov
The Appeals Committee, consisting of FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos from Greece, Continental President Jorge Vega from Mexico and FIDE Vice President Zurab Azmaiparashvili from Georgia ruled in favour of Topalov, deciding that the bathrooms in the rest areas should be sealed, and the players should use a public toilet which would be reserved for the two of them.
This morning a second protest was submitted by Topalov’s manager Silvio Danailov, demanding once more that the players must be accompaniment of an assistant arbiter when they visited the (public) toilet, and that controllers be posted in the rest rooms of the players. He also announced that Topalov would no longer be willing to shake hands with Kramnik or participate in common press conferences.
Vladimir Kramnik and his manager Carsten Hensel
Finally an open letter to President Ilyumzhinov was circulated by Kramnik’s manager Carsten Hensel stating that the demands of the Topalov team were utterly disgraceful and intruding on Kramnik’s privacy; that the opponents were using a distraction strategy, which included a parapsychologist whose sole task was to disturb and insult Vladimir Kramnik; and that the Appeals Committee were heavily biased in Topalov’s favour. They threatened to interrupt the match if Kramnik’s rights were not respected and he was not allowed to use the rest rooms and toilet.
The events of Friday
Game five was scheduled to start at 15:00h Kalmykia (Russian) time. While thousands waited on the Playchess server no moves arrived from Elista. At that time Chief Arbiter Geurt Gijssen announced that there would be a 15-minute delay in the start of the game, “for some reason.”
Chief Arbiter Geurt Gijssen announcing that the game is delayed by 15 minutes
At 15:20h Topalov appeared with Gijssen and took his place at the table. The arbiter started the clocks, and Topalov sat in his armchair and started looking around.
Veselin Topalov arrives for game five, and at 15:22h his opponent’s clock is started
On the monitor the press corps could see Kramnik relaxing in his rest room, waiting for the bathroom to be opened. Kramnik’s second Miguel Illescas confirmed to Misha Savinov that Vladimir will not come out unless his demands were accepted.
The press is also given opportunity to see the images from the rest room
Topalov examining the public toilet (with a deputy arbiter)
At 16:22h, one hour after he had started the clocks, Chief Arbiter Geurt Gijssen stopped the game and awarded the point to Veselin Topalov. The official announcement that Kramnik had forfeited the game was made just before 17:00h.
Topalov signing the forfeit gamescore with the match arbiters
Topalov happy to receive the full point for game five
Mission accomplished – Topalov manager Silvio Danailov facing the photographers after his man was awarded a forfeit over Kramnik.
In the meantime a special press conference was being held by FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos. At around 17:00h Kramnik arrived to take part in the press conference.
Vladimir Kramnik and Carsten Hensel arrive at the press conference (at the table Polina Tsedenova of the FIDE Secretariat, and Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos, right)
First Kramnik exchanged some words with Makropolous, asking whether there was any reason to suspect that he might be using a computer. Makropoulos stated that, contrary to the claim in Carsten Hensel’s open letter, the contracts for the World Championship do not state clearly that the restrooms must be equipped with bathrooms. For this reason the protest was irrelevant.
Kramnik in heated discussion with Markopoulos
Vladimir Kramnik: “Incorrect and outrageous!”
To this Vladimir Kramnik replied that Georgios Makropolous and Zurab Azmaiparashvili of the Appeals Committee were very good friends of Silvio Danailov, and that their actions were clearly biased in favor of Topalov. “The decision to grant Danailov full access to videotapes is incorrect and outrageous,” said Kramnik. “I did not sign the contract for acting in a reality show. This goes against all ethical norms and violates my privacy.”
The close circuit video surveillance of the players’ rest rooms
Arbiter Gejssen running through the restroom videos with Veselin Topalov
“I am ready to continue the match and play the 5th game tomorrow,” Kramnik continued, “on the conditions that were accepted prior to the start of the match. My dignity does not allow me to stand this situation. Now I am going to return to my cottage and rest.” After this Kramnik, Hensel and Illescas left the building.
Leaving the press conference
Pictures and information provided by Misha Savinov and FIDE
So what will tomorrow bring?
The situation looks very bleak for the Reunification World Chess Championship. The Appeals Committee has awarded a point to Veselin Topalov, who was trailing 1:3 and is now closer to Kramnik at 2:3 points. The forfeit point is particularly valuable for Topalov since it came in a black game. If the decision stands Kramnik would have wasted one of his white games. It is unlikely that Topalov will agree to any solution that would involve reversing the favorable decision of the Appeals Committee.
Vladimir Kramnik will probably insist that game five be played out on the board and that his demands be met. He feels deeply offended by the suspicion that has been raised against him and the intrusion on his privacy. He will remind the officials that a number of very severe checks are in place to insure that the rest rooms are tamper proof. Indeed, electronic noise is being generated to prevent any form of electronic communication within and in the vicinity of the playing venue. It is unlikely that Kramnik will accept the forfeit and continue playing the match at 3:2 on Saturday.
During the entire crisis the President of FIDE (and of the host country Kalmykia) had not been present in Elista. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was in Sochi with Russian President Vladimir Putin, attending a meeting the Heads of the Regions of the South Russian Region of the Russian Federation. In a letter to Vladimir Kramnik, sent before the events of the afternoon, Ilyumzhinov wrote: “I hereby inform you of my full trust in the members of the Match Appeals Committee and their latest decision taken in respect of the appeal of Topalov’s team dated 28 September 2006. I am also asking you in good faith to continue your participation in this match for the sake of the principles of our sport and prevention of the destruction of our long-sought efforts to organize this World Championship match, which is of utmost importance for the whole world.”
Ilyumzhinov is in close and constant touch with Putin and his deputy, Alexander Zhukov, who is also President of the Russian Chess Federation. It will be difficult for him to allow the match to collapse and hand a forfeit victory to the Bulgarian player, especially since the decision against the Russian player was taken in his absence on Russian soil by a committee consisting of people from Greece, Georgia, Mexico and Holland. Still, he may decide to support the Appeals Committee, or he may take an executive decision which allows the match to proceed. There is also a possibility that he will give up on chess, after he has invested around $50 million in the game.
In the meantime we hear that Ilyumzhinov has interrupted his visit in Sochi and is on his way back to Elista. Possibly the only chance that the match can be salvaged lies in the hands of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
Open Letter
To FIDE President Kirsan Iljumshinov Russian Chess Federation
Elista, 29. September 2006
Requests of Vladimir Kramnik
• To proceed with GAME 5
Clause 3.17.1., Schedule 2 of the contract: “All protests must be submitted in writing to the Appeals Committee not more than 2 hours after the relevant playing session.”
The protest made by the Topalov Team were not made within this window after game 4 (27 September 2006) but only hit the FIDE Office and the Appeals Committee on the rest day (28 September 2006). Therefore the protests are not even relevant and should have been rejected by the Appeals Committee immediately.
Clause 3.18.3., Schedule 2 of the contract: “After the World Chess Championship Committee agrees with the Organizers on the arrangements in respect of the tournament hall, facilities etc. etc. etc……., no objections from the participants shall be acceptable as long as the conditions are in accordance with the rights of the players granted in their agreements.”
This clause clearly underlines the statement made in today’s Open letter: “By starting the match both participants agreed all the playing conditions de facto and de jure and the conditions are therefore legally binding. Any change of the playing conditions without a good reason would in our understanding request the approval of both players which is not the case here.”
Therefore it is clear that the Appeals Committee took a completely wrong decision and was obviously not even aware of the Rules and Regulations. The decision of Chief Arbiter Mr. Gijssen to forfeit game 5 was clearly based on a wrong decision of the Appeals Committee and shall be nullified.
Mr. Kramnik is ready to continue the match and to play the 5th game (with a leading score of 3:1) on the conditions that were accepted prior to the start of the match.
• Toilet issue
The toilets connected to the restrooms shall be opened again. This request is in accordance with clauses 3.17.1. and 3.18.3 (see above) and in the general understanding that by starting of the match both participants agreed to all the playing conditions. Any change of the playing conditions without a good reason would require the approval of both players which is not the case here.
Mr. Kramnik is ready to accept even stricter controls by sealing the toilets before and after inspections. Inspections shall be done before and after each game.
• Exchange of members of the Appeals Committee
We repeat that the Kramnik team does not trust the objectivity of the Appeals Committee anymore. It is evident from this letter and our first Open Letter today that the existing Appeals Committee is biased and incompetent. Mr. Kramnik strongly insists once again that the members of the Appeals Committee will be exchanged immediately.
• Access to Recordings
As Mr. Kramnik in the press conference stated he did not sign a contract for acting in a reality show. The recordings shall be observed by the arbiters. Neither Team Topalov nor Team Kramnik shall have access to the recordings. Investigations shall be in the sole responsibility of the Arbiters.
• Requested Apology
Last but not least Mr. Kramnik believes that Mr. Danailov should apologize to Mr. Kramnik in writing. Remarks such as:
“If the match were to continue, the World Champion will refrain from shaking hands with Mr. Kramnik before the games and will not take part in joint press conferences with him.” and “Veselin Topalov is disturbed by the suspicious behavior of his opponent Mr. Vladimir Kramnik who takes his most significant decisions in the bathroom.” are clearly insulting.
On behalf of Vladimir Kramnik Yours sincerely, Carsten Hensel (Manager to Vladimir Kramnik, Classical World Chess Champion)
Open Letter of FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to Vladimir Kramnik
Sochi, 29 September 2006
GM V. Kramnik
Dear Vladimir,
I am currently in Sochi, at meeting of meeting of the Heads of the Regions of the South Russian Region of the Russian Federation led by the President of Russia V. Putin.
I have carefully read your open letter of today addressed to me, and I hereby inform you of my full trust in the members of the Match Appeals Committee and their latest decision taken in respect of the appeal of Topalov’s team dated 28 September 2006.
I am also asking you in good faith to continue your participation in this match for the sake of the principles of our sport and prevention of the destruction of our long-sought efforts to organize this World Championship match, which is of utter importance for the whole world.
Millions of chess fans in the whole world are following this match with great interest and are looking forward for the just outcome produced over the chessboard and not from exchanging open letters which we are receiving from both teams. The Republic of Kalmykia and me personally as well as the Russian Chess Federation with its President, Mr. A. Zhukov have done our best in order to secure excellent conditions for the both participants. Therefore, I am kindly asking you to respect all these steps taken towards the smooth organization of the event.
Yours sincerely, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov President
Seirawan: highly-charged situation calls for a compromise 29.09.2006
GM Yasser Seirawan is the match commentator on Playchess.com, and as such deeply involved in the World Championship in Elista. In a letter to FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov he calls for a calming of nerves, the reversal of the forfeit and the resumption of the match from game five. Yasser’s proposal is succinctly argued. Should he be sent to Elista to mediate?
His Excellency FIDE President Kirsan N. Ilyumzhinov
September 29, 2006
Re: Crisis in the Elista 2006 World Championship Match
Dear Kirsan,
I am writing an open letter to you regarding today’s events during the 2006 Unification World Championship Match between the Classical World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and the FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov.
For far too long the chess world has been in a terrible schism, and a successful conclusion to the current match is of paramount importance to chess fans and to the future of our sport. With tempers currently running high, it is time for all parties to show their manifest goodwill so that the match can resume, so that the players can demonstrate their skill over the board and so that chess fans can enjoy a resumption of the exciting games we have seen so far.
I would therefore urge that all parties calm down and reflect upon the events that have led to today’s aborted game.
It is my understanding that Veselin Topalov lodged an official complaint that his opponent visited his bathroom an excessive number of times during play, casting a suspicion of unfair behavior. The Appeals Committee agreed that the complaint had some basis and decided that the solution was that the players would henceforth share a common bathroom. In so doing the Appeals Committee made a clearly erroneous decision, which it should now reverse with good grace.
Before the start of the match, a contract was signed by all parties. Furthermore, before the start of play all parties inspected the playing area, the separate restrooms and the separate bathrooms. These were the conditions agreed to by all the parties, and the match began. Thereafter, any changes to these arrangements would require the unanimous agreement of all parties. It was therefore wrong of the Appeals Committee unilaterally to withdraw from Vladimir Kramnik the conditions of play to which he had agreed, namely use of a separate restroom and bathroom.
Angered by the decision of the Appeals Committee, which violates the match contract, Vladimir Kramnik has stated that he considers the Appeals Committee biased against him and asks that the members of the Appeals Committee be changed.
This highly-charged situation calls for a compromise by all parties, and I therefore suggest the following solution:
- Firstly, since separate bathrooms were agreed to by all parties, they should be reinstated with immediate effect.
- Secondly, to assuage any suspicions of unfair behavior, the bathrooms should have an attendant at hand during play.
- Thirdly, Game Five should be rescheduled and played tomorrow, Saturday, September 30, 2006 at the usual time.
Finally, the Appeals Committee members should be allowed to remain in place as the Committee is currently constituted. However, the Committee made an error and its decision should be reversed. Veselin Topalov followed the proper channels of protocol to lodge a complaint, and his complaint was upheld. It was the Appeals Committee which over-reacted, exceeded its authority and failed to respect the contract signed by FIDE.
It is my sincerest hope that this solution will be regarded as measured and fair to all parties and that the unfortunate disagreement can now be resolved promptly. Then all of us in the chess world can resume our enjoyment of a fascinating over-the-board contest between two magnificent players.
Sincerely, Yasser Seirawan
30/09/2006
After the end of the first round of negotiations with the teams of Kramnik and Topalov, the FIDE President provided us with his comments on the current events.
–The first round of negotiations has just finished. What is the outcome?
–The process of the negotiations started last night at midnight, immediately after I arrived in Elista. The first meeting was held with Vladimir Kramnik (our conversation lasted for about an hour), and today I spoke with Silvio Danailov. The first point, which we agreed on, is the postponement of today’s game, in order not to be under time pressure. Second and the most important point – both parties are ready to continue the match, they are ready to play. The stumbling block is the score, from which the match will be continued, 3:2 or 3:1. Also, the issue regarding the toilets has not yet been solved.
–In his letter, apart from other things, Kramnik is demanding official apologies from Danailov and the change of the members of the Appeals Committee.
–The priorities in our discussions are the following: first – the score, second – the toilets and then all the other things.
–What arguments are brought forward by the parties?
–Each of the parties is bringing forward their own reasons and is trying to prove that they are the ones who are right. The team of Topalov keeps insisting that the too frequent visits of Kramnik to the toilet are suspicious; Kramnik is referring to the clauses in the contract, describing the rights of the participants, in particular, the issue regarding the toilets. And it is a private issue, whoever goes wherever how many times.
–Danailov is his accusations is not giving any concrete examples, such as a series of strong moves, following the visits of Kramnik to the said room.
–Danailov said that he could present a report, which decisions were taken during respective moments. I responded with pointing out the exact mistakes, especially in the first two games, made by both Kramnik and Topalov. Thus, for example, both participants missed the simplest mate in the 2nd game, which I told both of them immediately after the game. As a chess fan I did not restrain myself from coming to the stage and asking, “Volodia, didn’t you see the mate?” “Which mate?” – he did not understand. It became clear during the press conference that also Topalov did not see the mate. If they had used the computer prompts, they would have never missed such a possibility.
–Please, comment the legal status of the 5th game: the clock was started, the delay was registered, Topalov signed the score sheet…. By the way, did Kramnik sign the score sheet?
–Kramnik did not sign the score sheet. If a political decision from both sides is going to be taken, then the technical loss of Kramnik can be cancelled.
–What is the technical procedure in reaching this?
–If there is a principal possibility of solving the issue, we will find a legal form for this. The issue has become political.
–Are there any levers of influencing Kramnik and Topalov in the current situation?
–There is only one lever, which I mentioned to both Kramnik and Topalov – millions of chess fans all over the world, who are looking forward to beautiful games and not for legal disputes. This is the most important issue! I told them: break away from your disputes, look around, you are not playing only for yourselves, you are playing for the entire chess world. You are the ones who say that chess is in lack of investors, and now you are doing everything in order to even decrease their number. Yesterday and today I keep receiving telephone calls from the representatives of those companies, which I attract for sponsoring of the chess competitions. They are asking me: “How come, the two most intelligent chess players cannot share a toilet with each other? So no sense for us to interfere, with our millions….”
–Is there any deadline for taking final decisions?
–Today. In the worst case, tomorrow before noon.
–What will happen in the hypothetical case if the parties do not find any compromise?
–There will be no continuation of the match.
–The match will be stopped… And what will happen then?
–Mr. Campomanes called me yesterday (laughing), he is ready to come here!
–Could you express your personal opinion, from which score should the match continue?
–I want the parties to come to a compromise. Let’s wait…
Events in Elista and the recent ruling by the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov that game five would be awarded by forfeit to Veselin Topalov have sparked an enormous number of letters and articles, amoung them the 12th world champion Anatoly Karpov
[The interview took place before it was known that Kramnik would play game six]
Karpov: I would like to say that the problems Illumzhinov is wrestling with are of his own making. This is because in recent times, serving on an appeals committee has become a reward for past services rendered. But in reality, this is a job for specialists, who have proven themselves to be above reproach. In my day, the procedure for appointing members of an appeals committee was as follows: the international federation presented a list of five people, with suitable qualifications; and the participants each listed them in order of preference. Each was given points, and the ones who got the most, went onto the committee.
And there were no protests?
There were protests. But the Appeals Committee was comprised of people who could be trusted, and were of unimpeachable reputation. And specialists, naturally. There is no need to speak of Azmaiparashvili, and particularly of his reputation. Thanks to the fact that the players were given no say in the matter, you end up with “operators” like him on the committee. Work on this committee is paid, and paid very well, so of course, there are lots of people wanting the job. But only those who are reliable and deserving should get it. It seems clear that Illumzhinov realised that they had messed up, but he was unable to clear up all of the mess. And if Kramnik continues the match, it means that they have simply stolen a point from him.
Perhaps Kramnik’s team did not do things quite right? They could have protested before the game. In general, frankly speaking, I do not understand all of these goings-on, but it is perfectly clear that the Bulgarian delegation wanted to disturb Kramnik’s equanimity, and thereby to try to improve their chances. They have succeeded. They got a point illegally. I don’t know how this has affected Kramnik’s morale, but it can hardly have helped. I would say that they used immoral methods. It would perhaps be difficult to sue anyone over this, although I think it could be possible to do so successfully, all the more so considering that Illumzhinov, as President, has the power to overrule the Appeals Committee. If he can overrule their first decision, and dismiss them, then that means he can overrule their subsequent decisions also. If their first decision is illegal, that means so was their second.
Illumzhinov said that legally, the score has to be 3:2…
He got himself into this mess, and getting out of it is not simple. Of course, whatever you do, one side or the other will be unhappy. If one speaks of the moral side of it, I don’t understand how Topalov can continue to play on with such a burden. I could not. But as far as Topalov is concerned, everything is great – he took a shot and seized his chance!
If you were in Kramnik’s place, would you play on?
I would not continue the match.
Then the 13th world champion Garry Kasparov signed an article published in the WSJ of October,2
It usually takes a scandal to get the world’s pre-eminent mind sport into the news these days. The latest example comes from the current world chess championship in Elista, Russia. The match between Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria was intended to unify the chess championship that has been divided since my challenger and I broke away from the international chess federation (FIDE) in 1993 in an attempt to professionalize the sport.
The first four games of Kramnik-Topalov–the match was scheduled for 12 games–received scant attention in the world press. That changed when the Bulgarians published a complaint about Mr. Kramnik’s frequent trips to the restroom during the games, calling his behavior “suspicious” and threatening to abandon the match. The appeals committee governing the match agreed, and ruled to close the players’ private restrooms, which would be replaced by a shared one. (How it pains me to see such distasteful events driving the coverage of a world championship.) Mr. Kramnik protested the decision by sitting out the fifth game and was forfeited. Currently the match sits suspended.
The clear implication of the original protest was that Mr. Kramnik might be cheating during his restroom visits. In recent years the chess world has been rife with such suspicions thanks to the rise of powerful microcomputers and transmitting technologies. Several amateur chessplayers have even been caught using such devices to cheat in tournaments. I should add that Mr. Kramnik was leading 3-1 at the time of Mr. Topalov’s protest, although it was mostly thanks to very shaky play by his opponent, not a display of suspiciously superhuman skill.
Adding irony to the tragedy is the fact that for the past year and a half Mr. Topalov himself has been the subject of rumors and even public accusations that he has cheated with computer assistance. Hard evidence is lacking, with some pointing to odd behavior by his assistants and other critics saying there is simply no other explanation for Mr. Topalov’s sudden ascent to the top of the rating list after my retirement.
Chess has a long history of scandal and controversy at the highest level. The last world championship game to be decided by forfeit was Bobby Fischer’s loss to Boris Spassky in their legendary match in Reykjavik in 1972. Mr. Fischer was well known for such protests and lived up to his reputation by complaining about the conditions in the playing hall after game one, and then not appearing to play the second game. Mr. Spassky, a gentleman–too much so, perhaps–agreed to Mr. Fischer’s demands, even playing the next game in a small back room usually reserved for table tennis. (Notably, Mr. Fischer accepted the forfeit almost meekly.) Mr. Spassky’s 2-0 lead didn’t help him in the end. Mr. Fischer won the match convincingly and, while he was clearly the superior player, I am one of many who believe that by making concessions off the board Mr. Spassky was psychologically unable to play his best at the board.
Until last Friday, that was the last forfeit in world championship history. It’s still not clear if this will be the first match cancellation since 1985. After five months of grueling play, my first world championship contest with Anatoly Karpov was abruptly cancelled by the FIDE president. Instead of having a set number of games, our match was to go to the first player to reach six victories, a goal that had proved unreachable despite Mr. Karpov’s jumping out to a 5-0 lead. After I won games 47 and 48 to move the score to 3-5, the match was abruptly cancelled. The Soviet sports authorities who had such influence in FIDE didn’t want to take the chance I would win another game. Their loyal favorite, Mr. Karpov, hadn’t won a game in months, and I–the outspoken youngster from Baku–was getting too close for comfort.
Mr. Fischer may have been difficult and unstable, but he was a sportsman whose complaints were based on principle and a sincere desire to improve the standards of the chess world. Tournament conditions and prize funds improved immeasurably thanks to his efforts. My battles with the power-hungry thugs who ran the Soviet and international chess world were politically driven. To me they represented a backwards and corrupt system. They saw me as a threat to their control.
The protests and conflicts seen in the current match are of a very different nature and reflect the complete loss of professionalism in the sport. The event is taking place in the capital of the Russian republic of Kalmykia under the auspices of its president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is also the president of FIDE. He has created a vertical column of power that would be familiar to any observer of Russia today. He runs the chess world in the same authoritarian way he runs his impoverished republic. After a decade of such mistreatment, the only place that could be found to host this match was his own capital. Serious sponsors rarely want anything to do with Mr. Ilyumzhinov and his organization.
Even his closest cronies in FIDE failed Mr. Ilyumzhinov this time. He stocked the match’s appeals committee with FIDE officials, but while he was away, their decision created the crisis that now seems likely to end the match in ruin. Recognizing the failure of his stated goals and low methods, Mr. Ilyumzhinov has lately taken steps to unify the chess world and make long overdue moves to professionalize the organization of events. This terrifies the fixers who would be the first to go under a professional administration.
Combine this collapsing power structure with players and managers concerned only with self-interest and making money, and what happened in Elista was practically inevitable. In fact, most of the principal actors in Elista stand to gain from the cancellation of the match. Mr. Topalov was losing at the game and so he switched to gamesmanship. If the match is aborted he can claim he wasn’t defeated and so maintain his status as FIDE champion.
Mr. Kramnik rose to the provocation and now may walk off with the same faded title he took from me in 2000. For years he avoided both a rematch and unification with FIDE. If this chaos isn’t resolved he can go on to claim “champion for life” standing outside of FIDE.
Just like their brothers in spirit in the Kremlin, the chess nomenclatura hope to prolong the anarchy and corruption from which they have profited for so long. Mr. Ilyumzhinov needs this match to continue, but it is he who sowed the seeds of its downfall.
For a game associated with brainpower, chess’s leaders and its leading players have displayed remarkably little in recent years. They are now paying the price by having their pettiness and incompetence splashed across front pages around the world.
The comments in the Open letter by the top Russian players Svidler and Bareev were definitvely sharper…
For the past 13 years the chess world lived in a state of break-down. The Elista match was organized to determine a unified World Champion, and create conditions for the further development of chess. The match began brightly – to the delight of millions of chess fans the contestants were clearly enjoying a fair and uncompromising fight.
However, when the match went off course for the FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov, his manager Silvio Danailov blew the situation up in the most unpleasant manner, accusing Vladimir Kramnik of overly frequent visits to the toilet.
Silvio Danailov’s hard-hitting actions were clearly designed to at least put Kramnik under pressure psychologically, and at most to disrupt the match. Evidently, Mr. Danailov had no belief in the ability of his client to transform himself over the course of the match, as he has done in numerous tournaments.
Two members of the Appeals Committee, Mr. Makropoulos and Mr. Azmaiparashvili, who by their status were obliged to be neutral and uphold the law, took a morally repulsive step of handing the tapes from Kramnik’s recreation room to his opponent’s team. Then, on Danailov’s request, they unlawfully changed the playing conditions of the match, paying no attention to the fact that it is explicitly forbidden not only in the contracts signed by both players, but also in the FIDE’s own Regulations for the organization of the World Championship Match (clause 3.18.3). It is worth repeating that both Makropoulos and Azmaiparashvili are FIDE vice-presidents, and it is obvious that such unprofessional and biased people should not be at the helm of the International Chess Federation.
FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov certainly should not have accepted the point earned by Danailov in an unfair campaign against Kramnik. During the press-conference after Game 6 Veselin, clearly embarrassed, admitted that he acted impulsively when in one of his protests he threatened not to shake his opponent’s hand and stop attending the press-conferences after the games. It was odd to see how easy it was to take back the incendiary words which so offended both Kramnik and the organizers of the match. We believe that such blackmail can not be allowed, and once again FIDE and the Appeals Committee failed in their duty to do so.
By refusing to play Game 5, Kramnik forfeited a whole point in the World Championship match to fight the mean and dirty campaign waged against him. And although formally he lost, we believe that the leading players will realize that as long as Makropoulos and Azmaiparashvili are in charge of the design and running of the World Championship cycle, the future of chess is not too bright.
To the disappointment of the chess fans, a wonderful match was ruined as a spectacle to protect the financial interests of three people, and, regrettably, in the eyes of the world community chess is once again associated with scandals and dirt.
We are asking the top-grandmasters, World Champions and Ex-World Champions to express their opinion on the events of the last few days in Elista, as a number of leading Grandmasters have done already.
We are also calling on the FIDE President to sack Mr. Makropoulos and Mr. Azmaiparashvili.
Moscow 04.10.2006