The unpublished interview of Veselin Topalov
Aruna answers before knowing the full text
Report by Chessdom
A few days ago Times of India published exclusive interview with Topalov about the World Championship match in Sofia. At the same time Anand’s reply was published by Indian media, Veselin Topalov contacted Chessdom.com sending the full text of the interview, large parts of which have not been published by TOI.
1. How tough was the World Championship match against Anand?
Physically the match was not so difficult. 12 games are not so many and there were many rest days. KO format is much tougher in this sense.Mentally of course, the tension was very high,but it is also true that top chess players are used to pressure.
2. What are your afterthoughts on game 12 and your misadventure?
Well, I was not happy for a 6-6 tie against the World Champion things are not so bad. Of course, in the rapid games Anand would have been the favorite, but mainly I missed my chances in games 3, 5 and 10, where I was close to the win.
3. According to some reports, it seems Anand was helped by Kasparov, Kramnik and Carlsen for the match. Your comments please.
I do not think Anand should be very proud of this. Especially by the fact he accepted help from the first two. I am between the chess elite already for 15 years and perfectly remember how Kasparov treated Anand for years. And not long before World Championship match in Bonn 2008 Anand had to stand the arrogant statements of his opponent in the press. I would never accept help from persons who humiliated me during years even for free. But it seems Anand is different.
4. Does the above-mentioned help indicate that the players respect Anand and want him to do well. Or is this the case of they ganging against you because of unproved Toiletgate allegations thrown at Kramnik?
Actually I also received help during the match by grandmasters whose names I will not mention, as I plan to work with them in the future in secret. Clearly, they wanted me to win, so I do not complain about luck of supporters. As for the allegations during the Toiletgate, in fact they were quite founded. Simply the Organizers do not publish the dozens of hours of video-recordings from the match. Even FIDE does not have access to them and my delegation was not allowed to make copies. Only this says enough about the Organizers there. And the behavior of my opponent is similar to of an sportsman who had destroyed his doping test, but claims it is not relevant, because it was negative anyway.
5. Do you fear that during the Challenger tournament remaining seven players could gang-up against you and make your task of winning the event that much difficult?
As far as I know, the 8 players will decide the next Challenger in direct matches not a tournament. Also, believe me, nobody from us is friend with all the others.
6. Do you think you have got enough recognition for your stance of not accepting draws and making the game uncompromising and far more entertaining?
Yes, I think so. Since the Sofia rules were invented by my manager Silvio Danailov back in 2005 the results are very positive. Sponsors liked them and new tournaments appeared. Media interest to chess has grown and prizes increased. For winning the World Title in 2005 I received 300 000 USD and five years later Anand got 1.2M euro for winning the match in Sofia. This speaks for itself.
7. Do you think Anand is the most complete player because ha has won the World title in all formats: tournament in your absence, KO in 2000 and matchplay against Kramnik and you?
Yes, that is something no one can deny. Also, he has been a Rapid World Champion, very strong in a blitz play and one of the best blindfold players in the world.
8. What are your thoughts on Anand who has retained his World title twice?
I think the World Champion in chess has a great responsibility. He has to collaborate with FIDE and attract new sponsors to chess. But Anand does not have a professional team behind him and he fails to find sponsorship. India could be a paradise for chess, but the fact he has not played a single tournament game in his own country since 2002 can only mean two things: either Anand does not like to play in India, or his team is not capable to stage a top level event. In both cases this is very bad for the chess as a professional sport.
The text above is the full interview that Veselin Topalov has sent to Times of India, without any changes. To the part published in TOI, Aruna and Anand already replied, as reported by Times Now. The full text follows.
World Chess Champion Vishwanathan Anand’s camp has hit back at Veselin Topolov for his comments slamming Anand for taking help from Gary Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik. Speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW, Anand’s wife Aruna Anand on Wednesday (May 26) said that Topalov is trying to intimidate them and that they are not bothered by such allegations.
She said, “We never really gave attention to what he said before I don’t think we are going to give attention to him now. I don’t know what his reasons are but till now we have just kept silent to whatever has been the provocation from his side. They think they are trying to intimidate us, but I think by making these allegations his is also showing his weakness quite openly.”
“I don’t know what is in their mind, but why make these allegations and what these allegations are we are really not going to be bothered. I think especially after winning the match in their own country, I don’t think we should be bothered by what they say and why they are saying it,” she added.
Earlier, in an exclusive interview to Times of India, Topalov had snubbed Anand saying that he doesn’t think Anand should be very proud of taking help from Kramnik and Kasparov. Topalov said that he doesn’t think Anand should be very proud of this and has remembered how Kasparov treated the Indian for years.
The Bulgarian also mentioned that he would never accept help from people who humiliated him for years but said Anand may be different.
He said, “I do not think Anand should be very proud of this. I remember how Kasparov treated Anand for years. And not long before the World Championship match in Bonn 2008, Anand had to stand the arrogant statements of his opponent in the press. I would never accept help from people who humiliated me for years even for free. But it seems Anand is different.”
Topalov is a true gentleman. He’s just being misunderstood.
Whatsoever now Anand is the World Chess Champion once again, India has 5 players on the Fide top 100 May 2010 list. India is the coming super chess power, India shall find sponsorship for chess, and have super tournaments in India, Anand has not played a single tournament game in India since 2002. It is the time for India to sponsor more for chess.
The media is to blame for today’s woes.
After keeping a dignified posture in his defeat, Topalov unfortunately sound negative in his subsequent interviews vis-a-vis the Super Ks. It may be on account of the influence of some camp following and not based on genuine emotions. Anand is only showing his gratitude towards all their jestures, true to his nature- as we all know that world championships are not won based on expert advices. More than that, it is Anand’s magananimity and his genuine sense of respect for all his opponents who contributed in making him what he is today, that shines through when he decided that let bygones be bygones- after proving his point across the chess board. Yes, Anand is different- let him stand that way, the media on its part may please not drag him (and Ms Aruna) into unseemly controversies.
Topalov is no gentlemen.Why is topalov team like to “drum up” problems?
I have to add a bit here,comparing both times and topalov unpublished interview.I see no major differents,in fact ,the main points remains the same .What are trying to play here Topalov or perhaps Danilov?
So Anand acknowledged his supporters publicly and thanked them for their support but Topa and his master would not even acknowledge these “secret” GM’s who wanted him to win?? Wow who is the gentleman?
Why is Anand not able to find sponsors ?
A very true remark..
What a waste of time. *yawn*
topa is sounding more pathetic with each passing day. sad really since he’s such a great spirit at the chess board
General media drumming up the controversy? Sounds more like the work of Topa’s “Team” – wanting to keep him in the spotlight – why else send in a transcript of the interview when it is the same that has appeared with exception of a few questions? Its not that TOI had changed what Topalov said (which is what Chessdom & this article seem to imply)… personally, I do not believe that Topa has the “street smarts” or character to do this by himself – he is just blindly following what his manager Dainalov is telling him to do. Topa should be focusing more on his over the board play rather than in this pathetic display of excuses…this is simply publicly validating what sore losers they really are!
I just want a clarification:
Does topa and his team believe they should have been the WC because they can attract more sponsorship?? I thought the WC is decided by OTB talent not a bidding war. Topa and Danialov are making fool of themselves. Stop it already.
I found no problem with Topalov’s comments. Those all are his personal views. Except the controversial statements on K & K, all are very much reasonable. Even that he is admitting ‘To forgive is something beyond his reach’.
“his team is not capable to stage a top level event”
To stage a tournament in India Anand need not be world champion. But if it has not happened AICF (All India Chess Federation) is to be blamed. Every one has seen what is their attitude in the episodes of GM Humpy and GM Gopal. AICF President owns a cricket team in IPL and making enough profit,then why to invest in chess??
Also one may not that Anand has played against only Sasikiran among the Top Indians. That one game he lost!
All I can say here is that Topalov is looking more and more like the true world champion.
It is not fair that Topalov thinks he is playing Anand and ends up playing Kasparov or maybe even Kramnik.
So, what we have here is Kasparov winning his precious title back without even moving a piece.
Pathetic to the max…
Topalov and his manager are good at provoking opponents. Because he couldn’t beat Anand over the board he has gotten personal. This is somewhat similar to Agassi’s personal attack on Sampras recently during an exhibition match. That’s what sore losers do!
Whether Anand was trained by Kasparov or his mother or his baby-sitter should be none of Topa’s business, but he won’t leave it like that. Why? Because that’s his character. These buggers cannot win nor lose with grace.
With the way Anand has conducted in all these years, he has shown that he not only has better IQ, but also much better EQ than Topalov.
Everytime I hear Topa and his manager speak, Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote comes to my mind: “It’s better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open and prove it beyond doubt.”
– Gans, USA
@Anonymous 4:16:00
You must be smoking some really strong stuff – can I have some?
According to your argument, I guess it is fair that Anand believes that he is playing Topalov and ends up playing against super computer and some other unnamed GMs that helped Topalov…
In the spirit of Anonymous at 4:16 pm, I suppose it is fair to say that Anand does not even know who he was playing since Topalov said that he also had the assitance of some GMs but he is going to keep their names secret. Given that seconds are allowed and any other resources such as super computers are allowed, I do not think it is fair to criticize either Anand or Topalov for resources used in preparation. It is just that Anand prevailed on the board. It is time that we stop discussing this and look forward to the second part of Susan’s report on the match
Since Topalov has lost quite a bit of money what with super computers and unknown number of helpers, he is probably trying to make a bit of money from various chess sites. Definitely his actions have resulted in a lot of chess fans visiting these sites and venting their anger and frustration with his team. With this traffic, chess sites are making some money and probably sharing it with Topalov as well. Cheap but it seems to be working. Otherwise how can one understand this personal attack against Anand after the match is over and lost.
Topalov must be absolute idiot or a brilliant mind to do this. Lets give him benefit of doubt and consider him brilliant for keeping himself in the news even after losing very badly.
Enough said. By the way Susan, why are we being made to wait for your analysis of the match. Waiting for one unbiased review atleast.
You have already proved to be biased in your first report by not siding with either Topa or Anand. According to Hindu philosophy, saying nothing when something wrong is being done is also like siding with the wrongdoer.
So you are already with Topa but I can hope still that the second one would be unbiased. Lets see.
“It is time that we stop discussing this and look forward to the second part of Susan’s report on the match”
And you are a disingenuous trolling freak from RGCP. Your IP address matches Massachusetts. Your blogger account is less than 5 days old.
Go back to the shadows with the rest of the chess garbage and politicians!
There is no difference in what TOI published and what Chessdom has published!
Amusing though as they claim there is! If they had clearly pointed out the things that TOI left out then it would have made some sense.
Topalov expressed his views in the interview. He has right for that as everyone of us has.
We can agree with that or not it is all. Making long going conlusions on the base of the interview is the mistake.
I would not accept the help from persons which were unfair to me without their excuses 1st but Indian philospohy is different.
So European will not understand Indian and the opposite.
Don’t think Anand had anything against Kramnik and as for Kasparov, he is already retired. Its time to forgive. By behaving badly Kasparov only showed that he was afraid of Anand’s over the board skills.
Though a contrarian (believing the opposite of what most Russians think is good for them and their country) there is no doubt that Gary is NOT a hypocryte. He certainly possess the power to prove himself a fine human being, besides being the chess genius that he is. Even Bill Gates was thought of as a villain by many- but not by too many, anymore. It was his early struggles that defined his chess character, but of late he had even openly admitted to being wrong in splitting the chess-world once (at the end of the bitterest of struggles). Tough he must stand (not gentle, discreet and altruistic!) considering the heavy odds against him pursuing formidable goals he set for himself, and the agenda, he must carry out. But his jestures to Anand, even before Bonne had a lot to do with his sense of equanimity rather than any kind of motives that may be conjured up. It was Anand who was capable of a different kind of struggle to succeed, endearing him to a whole lot among Chess World- and fortunately, because his genius held. Of course, that is a unique legacy for Chess, and beyond.