It’s Your Move
Florida Sun Sentinel
June 17, 2007
The Vladimirov flap: The first edition of Gary Kasparov’s book Child of Change (1987) appeared in England, exposing some of the nasty tricks by FIDE and Soviet chess officials to deprive him of a shot at the title held by his nemesis. His main target was FIDE President Florencio Campomanes, who is mentioned 197 times in 242 pages.
The book was panned in the prestigious Dutch magazine New in Chess by Tim Krabbe, who attacked Kasparov as an egomaniac and wondered, “how a person can drown so naively in his own ego?” Kasparov was taken to task for his “shabby” firing of his longtime aide GM Evgeny Vladimirov, who was suspected of being a mole after some secret opening analysis missing from a safe was found in his room.
Krabbe denounced the charge: “In 1986 when he was three points ahead in the third match against [Anatoli] Karpov, Kasparov lost that whole lead in three games. How can such a thing happen? Without any proof, as Kasparov himself admits, the reputation of a colleague is murdered. I really hope Campomanes has not let himself be intimidated by the champion to the extent where he will not at least symbolically suspend Kasparov one day for this.
“GM Raymond Keene, chess columnist for The London Times, was appalled: “I certainly hope that Krabbe’s suggestion was a joke. It leaves a very bad taste in the mouth in the current climate of assault on freedom of speech by FIDE.”
The American magazine Inside Chess, now defunct, renewed its attack on Kasparov. “It is difficult for this reader to buy the picture painted of Karpov as the epitome of all that is regressive and evil in Soviet life or the equally unlikely portrait of Kasparov as the avatar of progress and light … Chapter 13, entitled “Knives in the Back,” contains Kasparov’s version of the ridiculous Vladimirov affair which cost the world champion much credibility and respect throughout the chess world.”
Kasparov was derided for blaming some of his losses on a spy in his camp. Yet did he not have a right to dismiss an aide he no longer trusted, which happens routinely in the business world?
Here is the full article.
Kasparov will always blame the world for his problems.
Time allows us to see things in a different light.
For example:
Botvinnik probably did have a lot of influential friends in Soviet Chess.
Kasparov was a great champion but was also very quick to ally himself with whichever faction gave him greatest license – so he has swung from pro- and anti- Camponanes and Iluzhmov positions.
Karpov was clearly aided and favored by the Soviet Chess hierarchy and took advantage of this favoritism but he was also a great champion.
As we look back with time and as more information comes out we’ll realize that chess players are not like chess pieces which come in only Black or White.
It seems Kasparov likes has many suspicions and blames for his problems. Very similar to Mr. Fischer but to a much less degree.
Kasparov is still awesome though! Good luck to Garry in the Russian politics.
Of course he had the right to dismiss his second. The right to publicly accuse him without proof is another matter, and is the same kind of behavior that killed Topalov’s reputation. There are in fact Ethics Rules against this kind of thing, though FIDE enforces them at their whim.
GM Larry Evans omits the name of the author of the Inside Chess book review, which featured on pages 3-4 of Inside Chess 1988, issue #6. The review “Born in the Sleep of Reason” was written by the much-missed Michael Franett.
Hi Susan,
“Yes” Kasparov has a very big ego and “no” we don’t know if his assistant was rightfully fired.
But how important are these chess trivia in the light of the bigger (political) picture?
Democracy in Russia is almost checkmated and you come with this?
In your USCF article “Fighting for chess!” you wrote;
“In the past few days, I was told of some of the most incredible lies by various chess politicians for political purpose. There is not even an ounce of truth to any of these rumors. They know that they have no chance to win this upcoming election based on their records and accomplishments”.
So you understand how it feels to get stuck in political mud. Like you I get mad when important matters get mixed up with Paris Hilton “news” and lies.
Now I wonder why you quoted Silvio Danailov, Director of Mtel Masters. He tells us on your blog;
“I call upon every chess fan in the world to support Gary!”
Kind regards,
Marc
Geez Marc, practice what you preach. Democracy checkmated in Russia, a war in Iraq, and you choose to criticize a blog. From what you told us, you have no right to notice any problems except the most severe in the world.
Geez Anonymous,
we can talk anytime > in cyberspace
We can talk everywhere > this blog is a good place
We can talk about everything > this subject certainly is fine with me
Recap;
signal A. We support Gary!
signal B. We think we can not trust this guy.
That’s like bread & bomb. Why? Becauce political credibility comes from continuity. If you say you support Gary as a politician then this ackward little news item opposes that statement.
Remember Gary is a politician nowadays.
Remember the cause he is fighting for.
And since this Susan’s personal blog, not Google-news, I wonder how you manage NOT to be supprised Anonymous.
Kind regards,
Marc