Russian Chess Champion Renews Sofia Match Venue Attack
Sports March 23, 2010, Tuesday
The former chess world champion, Vladimir Kranmik, has spoken out in support of Indian player Viswanathan Anand for his forthcoming match against Bulgarian Veselin Topalov.
The Russian has contended that the decision to stage the tournament in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, is not correct, as it injures the interests of Anand.
“Anand is a better player and I think he is the favorite in the match. I’ve played many times against both. This is nothing personal, but a purely objective assessment,” Kramnik said in an interview on the chessbase.com web site.
“There is a FIDE rule which says that the match cannot be played in the country of one of the players. Anand has every right to refuse and cannot be disqualified,” Kranmik explained.
The row erupted several days ago, when Bulgarian Silvio Danailov, Topalov’s manager, revealed that the international chess federation FIDE had asked Anand to play the Sofia World Title Match according to the “Sofia Rules”, but that Anand’s manager and wife, Aruna Anand, has rejected this proposal because of concerns over the selection of judges and the appeals committee.
The Russian ex-champion Kranmik admitted that he would be keeping his fingers crossed for Anand, “because it would be better for chess”.
The face-off between current world champion Viswanathan Anand from India and Bulgaria’s chess master Veselin Topalov, who is currently number one in the FIDE world ranking (Anand is third), will begin on April 21, 2010.
Topalov and Anand will play 12 games. If they end up level on wins, they will hold a tiebreaker including 4 games of fast chess. In 140 years of chess championships, there have been 19 World Title matches.
Source: http://www.novinite.com
I don’t really understand how Danailov can help Topalov in a match! All this sugestions about Sofia advantaging Topalov is nonsense! And let’s all remind Kramnik that Kalmykia is part of the Russian Federation.
This is really a shot in the arm for Anand with support coming from his previous adversary. It is likely to infuriate Danailov – Topalov combine and also put additional pressure on Topalov. I am sure more players (e.g. Morozevich) will follow suit to get their pound of flesh.
@Vesko: Danailov can certainly help Topalov by getting free match points as he did in Topalov – Kramnik match.
Anand needs to fight Topalov on the board and Danailov off the board – pretty tough fight it is going to be.
Kramnik quotes: “There is a FIDE rule which says that the match cannot be played in the country of one of the players. Anand has every right to refuse and cannot be disqualified”;
I would like to know, in the event of Anand not able to honor the Sofia match contract (let us say some controversy erupts midway and Anand withdraws…) will he still be the world champion?
Kramnik and Topalov don’t get along, so hearing Kramnik claim that Anand is better than Topalov (which will be determined), that there is nothing personal and it is an objective assessment – that is hilarious!
I am a fan of both Topalov and Anand and hope that political issues don’t disrupt the match.
Topalov got free point, because Kramnik refused to play game 5, if I remember correctly! So Anand should go to every game, and Danailov can’t influence nothing in this situation! That’s the simple truth! Stop blaming Danailov, because I’m sure that he got his reasons for doubting Kramnik in 2006! 23 visits in a game, in a bathroom that isn’t under video and sound surveillance! I’ll be suspicious too! Let’s be honest here, you’ll be furious too!
I bet Anand’s team has isolated him from all the internet, press et al. He is probably in a bubble focussing only the match so all these tactics are not going to work.
Go Anand!
Who ever came up with “Sophia” Rules. Jeez haven’t we figured out the rules of this 140 year old game yet
140 year old game??? In its current form chess is over 500 years old and the oldest forms go back over 1400 years.
Uhhh…Topalov isn’t #1
Anand has made a very serious mistake by entering to an agreement to play on Topalov’s home tuff.
If Kramnik had play his match with Topalov on Topalov’s home tuff he would have perhaps gone missing or had some accident !
Serious matches should be on neutral ground for both players – just look at big match of Fischer – Spassky 1972
Perhaps if they want to add more excitement and tension they could choose one of the many countries the US has recently invaded with there war machine just like Fischer – Spassky 1992 Match
(much better Wars are fought on the chess boards, and the victims are simply people’s egos)
Ok, for my dear Kramnik it is perfectly ok for him to play World Championship match in his home country but this is not the case for anyone else.
Kramnik, please, stop the rubbish.
I vote Kramnik for FIDE President!
His toilet can be delegate to USCF.