Mark Crowther of TWIC just offered his oppinion about the Topalov – Kamsky saga:
Topalov – Kamsky match awarded to Bulgaria
FIDE have given everyone involved until 14 November 2008 to agree to hold the match with a prize fund of 250,000 USD (an increase) plus 50,000 USD as contribution to FIDE in Bulgaria. The dates will remain 29th November – 12th December 2008 after a bid from Lviv organised by Kamsky’s manager Alexander Chernenko fell through.
If the Bulgarian Chess Federation can’t raise this money then bid for the match will reopen. If Topalov refuses to play then Kamsky goes through to play world champion Anand, if Kamsky refuses then he will be replaced by Shirov.
Although its really not ideal at all that Topalov has home advantage I believe Kamsky has to sign up for this, through his manager he’s had his chance for a better and more lucrative solution. I don’t believe FIDE had any choice either.
I have a general rule of not covering these kind of negotiations these days. So much of what is said and announced is just wrong. But this has some kind of air of finality about it, and about time too.
its crazy FIDE tries to makes players find there own sponsers.
Clearly Toppy get a few more favs from FIDE.
Also insane Americans with so much money cant help there world title hope Kamsky. No wonder Fischer went crazy in the end with so many Americans ripping him off eg “Searching for Bobby Fischer” movie etc
Poor Kamsky, I sincerely hope this genius is given a fair shot
Yes, poor Kamsky.
Come on – Susan, Paul – put your money down and back your man!
If Kamsky is a better chess player than Topalov then Kamsky will win the match also if they play the match in Bulgaria.
big advantage to Topalov to play on his home tuff.
My ignorance or naivete may be showing here, but exactly what has FIDE “done” to justify a demand for a $50 grand fee? Is this some sort of kickback or something because FIDE “owns” the world championship process? Is it “customary”, i.e., do they do this sort of thing habitually? How is this money spent? Does it wind up lining the pockets of FIDE officials?
You guys act like playing in a home country of one of the participants is something unprecedented. IT IS NOT!
Many candidates matches in the past were played in a country of one of the participants. and this match is some sort of a candidates final match.
There is absolutely no reson why the match can’t be held in Bulgaria. Especially since they are the only ones who are willing to organize it.
Who is Mark Crowther?
‘Does it wind up lining the pockets of FIDE officials?’
No it doesn’t.
‘Who is Mark Crowther?’
A chess parasite. He collects free games from the Internet and then sells them.
Mark Crowther runs the “free” Week in Chess site, where you can download the lastest games for free each week !
A very valueable resource used by many players including Grandmasters.
Mark Crowther deserves a big thanks, not nasty untrue comments.
Yes, all the games are for free!
And even if he would sell them, so what? You think it’s easy to collect games from virtually every international and national tournament on the planet? And to do it day after day after day for more than 10 years now.
I’m sure you downloaded many games from that site and you are not even thankful. So who is the parasite here???
‘I’m sure you downloaded many games from that site’
The games are being downloaded for the purpose of investigating their legality. Many are found to be wrong (moves, ratings and names of towns) and thus endanger the history of chess by being published in this way. It’s horrific!