Kasparov is still waiting…
Kasparov’s letter to FIDE 29.10.2004 The reunification match between Garry Kasparov and Rustam Kasimdzhanov is scheduled for January 7 – 24 in Dubai. However at the FIDE Congress in Calvià nothing concrete was announced. The funding of the match and many other details appear to be in doubt. In an open letter to the FIDE General Assembly Garry Kasparov delivers firm ultimatums.
The following letter was delivered by fax to the FIDE General Assembly by Garry Kasparov. It addresses the question of the reunification match between Kasparov and Rustam Kasimdzhanov that was announced for January next year. Kasparov is getting very nervous about the final confirmation and financial guarantees, which are still outstanding. He addresses these concerns in his letter, which was only read briefly and in excerpts at the General Assembly.
Open Letter by Garry Kasparov
To the FIDE General Assembly
RE: 2005 FIDE World Chess Championship
Ladies & Gentlemen,
I believe that everybody in attendance is aware of the press announcement of the FIDE World Championship in Dubai January 7th – 24th, 2005. The fact that this match appears to be following the same disastrous sequence of last year’s two failed FIDE World Championship events is of considerable concern to me and to most of the chess world.
The feeling of déjà vu is overwhelming as once again I see the same trend looming. Deadlines coming and going. Grand media announcements totally devoid of real detail or substance. This time, the FIDE Congress must act and put people in charge who know how to negotiate and agree contracts before issuing grandiose statements.
The harsh facts are that nobody can go into serious TRAINING and PREPARATION for a World Title with this uncertainty. It’s just not possible!
Unless we have an agreement that I can sign – with acceptable payment terms by October 31st, I would like to suggest the following.
That FIDE appoints a three-man committee to immediately negotiate with the Turkish Chess Federation, backed up by the Turkish Republic.
If they can move quickly the match can still be played in January, but unless I have a fully executed Escrow Account in place by Nov. 10th, the match must be moved to a date mutually acceptable to the two players, the organizer and FIDE.
From the time of the Prague Agreement on May 6th, 2002 to the present, I have stuck to my word to FIDE to work hard toward the reunification process.
True chess aficionados know that chess must see an undisputed World Chess Champion and then and only then will normal sponsorship flow into our noble game. In this way the game will grow and the sport will flourish.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has contacted me on several occasions about this match and my reply to him has been consistent.
Given the two failed attempts in 2003, I told Kirsan personally that while I was ready and willing to play the match, I would not sign any document until he had irrefutable proof of funding and could set up an escrow account or satisfactory instrument of payment. Kirsan agreed to this and many times during the past days and weeks told me “The agreement and proof of payment will be with you soon.”
On Friday 22nd October, I called Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and informed him that representatives of the Turkish Chess Federation, backed by the Turkish Republic, are highly interested in organizing and funding this tournament. They will only need 10 days, once FIDE gives them the sole option to present the Championships in Turkey.
I understand that Kirsan is now on his way back from Dubai. He has had a month or more to get it done in Dubai. Unless he has the money, we should give somebody else the authority to act.
I do not enjoy giving deadlines so instead you can view this as a REALITY.
Unless the $1M prize money is in escrow by Oct. 31ST, 2004 (for Dubai) or Nov. 10th, 2004 (for Turkey) I will no longer be available to play in January of 2005.
It must be of concern to everybody present that FIDE is in danger of losing control of the World Chess Championship cycle and a delay could mean that the impetus is lost. There are those at large who would love to see FIDE fail and reunification die – FIDE must not let it happen!
The first step toward reunification must be taken now. Then FIDE will only be one step away from its stated goal.
Give people like Georgios Makropoulos, Zurab Azmaiparashvili, and Israel Gelfer only 10 days to negotiate with Turkey and we will know one way or the other. At least it will not float in the air
Awaiting a response. Garry Kasparov
Few days later Ali , the president of the Turkish chess federation replied publically:
During the FIDE Congress I have participated in a World Chess Championship Committee meeting (it may be seen in the minutes of the meeting). I expressed our interest to Chairman George Makropulos, and to members Israel Gelfer and Zurab Azmaiparashvili. They agreed that there must be a deadline for Dubai, and then Turkey shall be given an option to seek government guarantees for the match. This was Mr. Gelfer’s idea to get a concrete decision in General Assembly for a deadline and then a ten days option for Turkey, since he considered this match very important for reunification process of chess.
Before the General Assembly on 27th October, Mr. Garry Kasparov sent me the letter which has been published. I delivered to letter to Mr. Israel Gelfer for distribution in General Assembly.
However, on 29 October, the Chairman of GA, Mr. Makropulos refused to distribute this letter in the GA, since it would be “insulting to the FIDE President”.
The letter included a proposal to give Dubai a deadline, and in case the fulfilment of conditions of the match failed, then an option to Turkey for ten days. Personally I do not believe that the letter is insulting to the President. I believe in that the world champions are not ordinary people and we should not disregard what they are saying.
In the General Assembly, the Chairman mentioned that to give a deadline to Dubai would be a very big risk of losing the match. I have made a motion, as delegate, and insisted that a deadline must be given and as the highest authority of FIDE a concrete decision must be taken by the GA. The Chairman refused my proposal, since the President was not in the GA. He claimed that if they took a decision it would be very risky that FIDE would lose the organiser of match.
As everybody may appreciate we now have only 70 days to fulfil the FIDE announcement dates for the match. I think it will be very late for a responsible organiser to arrange sponsors and conditions for this match if we wait any more. For the players I cannot believe how they can be ready in such as short time. Therefore as the Turkish Chess Federation we think that without the decision of the GA it would be a repetition of the same old stories again. We know the Ponomariov-Kasparov match failed twice, while at the time there were other candidates to organise the match.
I hope that the match will be organised in Dubai. I want it very much to happen, for the sake of chess, and I would be very happy if it did. But I want to ask everyone: who will take the risk if the match is not in Dubai? Of course we are assuming that the guarantee or the money for organising this match will be minimum US $1.2 Million, excluding organisation costs.
For Turkey this match would be very important, due to our economical and historical relations with Uzbekistan and Russia. Now without a GA decision we may not be sure what kind of problems we will face if Dubai fails. For the Turkish part it is very difficult to organise the match without a GA decision, because the FIDE executive management on this issue is floating in the air.
On behalf of my federation, I officially demand that in case the match does not take place, the responsible people in FIDE should resign their positions. If the match is organised as planned, I will be very happy and appreciate the work done by FIDE.
Gens Una Sumus
Ali Nihat YAZICI President of Turkish Chess Federation