World Championship 2005
On April 20, 2005, The World Chess Federation has published the conditions for its classical chess world championship in October 2005. Eight players, Kasimdzhanov, Adams, Kramnik, Leko, Kasparov, Anand, Topalov and Morozevich, are invited to take part in a double round robin. A prize fund of $500,000 is guaranteed, but FIDE is seeking bidders for more.
The FIDE President has undertaken to organise the World Championship in Elista, with a prize fund of half a million US dollars. But that is a fallback offer. FIDE is inviting bids from other countries and organisations to top the sum and stage the world championship elsewhere. The bidding process started on March 31 and ends on April 28.
The World Chess Championship Tournament (WCCT) will have eight players and will be staged in October 2005. The exact date and the venue are still to be announced
The event will be a double round robin at the following time controls: 40 moves in 2 hours, followed by 20 moves in one hour, followed by 15 minutes plus 30 seconds for all moves (40/2h, 20/1h, 15m+30sec/all). There will be free days after rounds four, eight and twelve.
On April 28th World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik answered FIDE
After defending the title of Classical World Chess Champion a few months ago against Peter Leko, I consider it important now to state my position regarding the current discussion about the World Chess Championship.
First of all, I would like to make it clear that I will not participate in the FIDE Championship, which is planned to take place this Fall in Argentina.
In the agreement that was signed in Prague by, among others, FIDE and myself, it was clearly stated that the Classical World Champion, eventually determined by my final match with Peter Leko, was qualified to play a unification match against the winner of the final match for the FIDE World Championship.
I fail to see any reason why the cancellation of the final FIDE match should influence my position on the agreed unification process. It is therefore incomprehensible that FIDE included me in the list of possible participants – a decision clearly in conflict with our existing agreement. Just for the record: FIDE did not even inform me before doing so.
Nevertheless, I am still ready to complete the unification process in the spirit of the Prague agreement. Therefore, the organization of a match between the winner of the FIDE event in Argentina and myself could be a solution to break the deadlock. I want to make it clear that I would be ready to participate in such a unification match.
In the event that FIDE will not demonstrate any willingness to follow the agreed process of unification, I will start discussing proposals with interested partners, in order to defend my title in accordance with the classical line of the World Chess Championship.
Vladimir Kramnik
World Chess Champion
In May, FIDE confirmed definitively San Luis as the venue for the 2005 World Chess Championship and announced that in December 128 professionals will head to Khanty-Mansiysk, a city of Siberia to compete for the FIDE World Cup.
World Championship 2005
Topalov (T), the pre-tournament favorite with Anand (A) and Leko (L) were asked few questions about their chances in San Luis
What are your expectations about this important competition?
T. I’m very happy for being able to participate in this historical World Chess Championship and I’m only thinking of winning it.
A. Of course it will be a very important event. I think all eight of us will be training our guns for the event. I will start training soon. Since it is a tough double round robin I think each round will be really important.
L. Everything is possible if I am able to show my best chess. But I am not thinking about the final result that much. My approach is just to play game per game as good as possible – step by step. My opponents are strong but I will fight.
How do you evaluate the way of play of this competition? (Double round-robin)
T. I think this is the best and most balanced system. Luck can not influence in the result. The winner will be the fair champion.
A. Exhausting, nerves, tension, patience, stamina, and lots of luck.
L. The double round robin format is nothing unusual for top players. We play it quite similar year by year in Linares. But the situation in San Luis will be rather different because the pressure is much higher as normal. A good mental and physical shape will be required.
Which are your favourite players among your seven opponents? And who will be the toughest?
T. Everyone is dangerous. Anyone can win.
A. All will be equally tough. It will depend on each one’s play. Some will get cracking from the beginning while others may have to work more. It is tough to pick a favourite. I think these are the seven most difficult rivals in top class chess.
L. This is a difficult question. Of course Anand and Topalov are the favourites if you just consider the ratings. But as I said: all players participating in San Luis are very strong. I think everybody has a decent chance to win this. You know, it is just one event and by the end of the day you need also a little bit of luck. But I am sure that we can expect a very close competition and the winner will be most likely decided in the last round only if not in a possible tie-break.
How are you preparing yourself for the WCC Argentina 2005?
T. I can’t reveal the secrets of my preparation, but I will be training hard for a long time.
A. I am playing in Mainz a rapid match. After that I will start working for Argentina. I will do some physical exercise routine. Some preparation and lots of rest before the actual event.
L. In terms of chess there will be nothing special. I will have a more general preparation. You can not compare a tournament with a match against one player as I had it last year against Kramnik. In a match it is necessary to dedicate a big part of your preparation especially towards him. But it is impossible to do the same with seven opponents. For San Luis you need to be motivated, fresh, full of energy, and very flexible.
Will this tournament be very different from all the others you have already played?
T. Of course, the World Chess Championship is always very special; I think this will be the most important tournament of my sportive life.
Anand: We play each other quite often in tournament chess. But when it comes to a title I think the stakes rise. This adds its own dynamics and tension. That could also be a vital factor.
L. Yes. This not only a super tournament but an event for the title. The pressure on the players will be tremendous. One will need a good nerve system.
Few day before the w days before the start Vasiliev interviewd Ilymzhinov
Kirsan Nikolaevich, Ruslan Ponomariov told me the other day: “Our match with Kasparov was to be held in Argentina, but somehow was cancelled. Now the World Championship is to take place there. As if it were another country…” And added that he would never believe that this Championship takes place until at least one move is made.
Kasparov-Ponomariov Match, which was to be held in Argentina, was cancelled because of a change in the authorities: after a severe economic crisis a new team came to power, and that team had different targets. Then Ukraine intended to host the match. It was supposed to take place in Yalta. You must remember how it turned out afterwards: Ponomariov and his team laid down one condition after another which finally caused the cancellation of the Match. Nevertheless, I understand Ponomariov’s disappointment. And I invite him as well as the other strongest chess players to Khanty-Mansiysk. The World Cup will be taking place there from 3 to 24 December, with the total prize fund of US $1,572,000. The top placers, apart from the good prize money, will be qualified for the World Championship Cycle and get a chance to compete for the highest title in chess.
Ruslan seems to have gained his former strength and is likely to compete for the World Cup and the title of Champion. I would like to come back to the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk topic later. Let’s finalize the Argentina subject. You are 100 percent sure that the match of the eight strongest players will take place, aren’t you?
Taking into account that the whole prize fund was transferred to the FIDE account and all participants are already in San Luis, what doubts could there be? I have my ticket to the capital of Argentina, where right on the eve of the Championship start I have an appointment with one of the country’s leaders.
I must confess that I have my ticket to Buenos Aires too and am looking forward to seeing the amazingly strong and important tournament! It is a pity that Kramnik is not there, because the real unification is possible only if the Classical World Champion is involved into the process. By the way, what is your opinion if the winner of the World Championship in San Luis will challenge Kramnik to a match?
The World Champion title belongs to the World Chess Federation (FIDE), the negotiations regarding such match are possible in principle only with FIDE. If Kramnik’s sponsors propose something interesting, we do not eliminate the possibility of such a match of the only legal World Champion, who will be defined in San Luis, against the so called Classical World Champion. If, of course, the only legal World Champion accepts it.
What is the start sum that may arouse the interest of FIDE?
I think starting from two millions. But this would be discussed in more detail with the parties involved.
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