During 2002 Brain Game, an agency which contracted for few years Vladimir Kramnik to organize world championships matches, was sold to Einstein Group (Einstein), the London based multi media group, that owns the einstein.tv television channel. With the help of Mrs. Nahed Ojjeh a rich businesswomen and also President of NAO Chess Club of Paris who generously donated 300,000 Euro, Einstein organized in Dortmund in July 2002 the first tournament of the reunification stage with seven players (without Anand and Ivanchuk). eventually won by Peter Leko of Hungary. Apparently Einstein took a lot of time to honor all his engagements and the confused situation hiritated a lot Mrs Ojjeh who on January 14 2003 announced that she has decided to break all relations with the Einstein group. This day chess lost probably a great potential. By end of June 2003 with no sponsor and no news about interest in the organization of the semifinal Kramnik-Leko, the contract between Enstein group and Kramnik was terminated.
The 2002 year finished with the well waited FIDE GA of Bled.
The President talked about the Agreement of 6 May 2002, which is an obvious example of how FIDE was trying to create peace and accord in the chess family. He said that the 117-year old history of the World Chess Championship had turned its page and started a new era as we managed to
reach an agreement on the main issue in the chess world as to who owned the World Chess Championship title. He added that with the signatures of Kasparov, Kramnik and other leading Grandmasters on the Prague Agreement, the chess world fully recognized that the World Chess Championship title belongs to FIDE. He praised the signatories
for their role in bringing this about.
President Ilyumzhinov also drew the attention of the delegates to the fact that at this year’s meeting we should really define and shape the unification process. Having mentioned the expected Kasparov-Ponomariov and Kramnik-Leko matches, he also said that we should not forget the Vice Champions as well as our baby, the knockout World Chess Championship.
The floor was then given to GM Yasser Seirawan.
Mr. Seirawan began by explaining that since the Prague Agreement of May 6 th , 2002, many discussions had been held with the affected players, FIDE officials, colleagues, sponsors and organizers. Having exchanged views with so many of the concerned parties, the following format, so carefully crafted, was the one that was recommended for approval for determining the FIDE World Champion for 2003 as well as for the 2003-2005 cycle.
Mr. Seirawan expressed his belief that the players, FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomarov and FIDE Challenger Garry Kasparov as well as FIDE will approve both a twelve game World Championship Match and the above schedule.
The Manager of World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov, Mr. S. Danailov addressed the General Assembly. He said that Mr. Ponomariov would participate in the World
Championship matches under 2 conditions. The rights of the World Champion to retain the title in the event of a draw and to play under the new time-control.
Grandmaster Garry Kasparov in his response pointed out that the most singular achievement by the FIDE President under the Prague Agreement was the fact that the World Championship title now belonged to FIDE. He added that what this meant was that there could be no more, dictating of terms by the World Champion. Grandmaster Kasparov went on to say that even though he was comfortable with the new time control, he preferred the old time control as being good for chess. He called on the General Assembly to take decisions without any pre-conditions from the World Champion.
General Assembly applauded the speech of Grandmaster Kasparov in acknowledgement of the principle that the World Champion should no longer enjoy any special privileges.
Deputy President G. Makropoulos pointed out that Mr. Seirawan had not exhausted his efforts to discuss his proposal with World Champion Ponomariov. However, he suggested that the proposal of Mr. Seirawan should be accepted in principle and such details as time control and exact Regulations for the unification matches and the exact system of the next cycle could be discussed by the World Championship Committee with final approval by the Presidential Board.
General Assembly approved in principle the report of GM Yasser Seirawan and directed the World Chess Championship Committee to finalise the details for the World Championship match Ponomariov-Kasparov, for the winner of the match between Kramnik-Leko to play the winner of the Ponomariov-Kasparov World Championship match and the subsequent cycle of the World Championship, for approval by the Presidential Board.
After the General Assembly’s attention was drawn to the statutory implication of changing the current cycle, which required a 2/3 majority, it unanimously resolved to approve the recommended changes to the World Championship cycle.
On January 16th, 2003, FIDE which didn’t want to repeat his bad experience with Kasparov in 1993 and Karpov in 1999, setup an ultimatum to the Champion Ponomariov. According a press release from FIDE they have tired of waiting for Ruslan Ponomariov to sign a contract to play Garry Kasparov and will now decide what alternative arrangements which could be to replace Ponomariov with his country fellow V. Ivanchik:
“FIDE cannot continue to wait indefinitely for a World Champion, who on the one hand, claims that he is prepared to accept the principles of the Prague Agreement, and that he is ready to defend his title against GM G. Kasparov, and on the other hand, fails to meet with its officials or even sign the declaration that he will play the match. In order not to be held hostage any more and in order to avoid any misunderstandings, the President of FIDE is holding consultations with members of the Presidential Board and shall announce the Board’s decision in due course.”
During the period Kramink and Leko were also looking around the world for potential organizers but all news of interet coming from Bahrein, Budapest or Buenos Aires desapeared as soon they were released. By 30 June 2003, Einstein Group lost his contact with Kramnik