AMERICANS GO FOR THE GOLD – PLEASE HELP!
by Bill Goichberg, USCF President
The 37th World Chess Olympiad will be held May 20-June 4 in Turin, Italy, and the United States may field its strongest team ever! At the previous Olympiad (Calvia 2004), our team narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth, and we could be much better this year. In 2004 we had only one player with a FIDE rating over 2620; this year three Americans with FIDE ratings of at least 2650 have qualified. Among those eligible are the following top GMs:
Hikaru Nakamura: The world’s highest rated player age 18 or below as of 4/1/06, winner of the 2005 US Championship and many other strong tournaments, probably America’s most serious threat to win the World Championship since Fischer. Not on the team in 2004; would be a spectacular addition!
Gata Kamsky: Once rated 2790 by USCF, and strong enough to qualify to play a match against Karpov for the FIDE World Championship in 1996. He was then inactive for eight years, and upon his return in 2004 did not seem the same player, as his rating dropped to a low of 2684 in January 2005. Since then, however, his old strength has returned; he has gained rating points in almost every tournament, and is now up to 2737 USCF after tying for first in Group B at the US Championship. Not on the team in 2004; could be another sensational pickup!
Alex Onischuk: Recently won the 2006 US Championship, undefeated, with a USCF performance rating over 2800! In 2004 he played first board for our Olympiad team and had a FIDE 2700 performance, against super tough opposition.
Ildar Ibragimov: One good result after another, and he has gained 125 USCF rating points in the past two years to move his USCF rating solidly over 2700, and his FIDE up to 2637. Silver medal winner with 4.5 out of 6 at the 2005 World Team, recently tied for first in the Western States Open and National Chess Congress, tied for second behind Nakamura in the North American Open, tied for second behind Onischuk in Group A, US Championship. Not on the team in 2004 and another great addition!
Gregory Kaidanov: Long one of the top rated players in the US, he won the silver medal for Board 4 at the 2004 Olympiad with a score of 8-2, a FIDE performance rating of 2760!
USCF is also sending a team to the Women’s Olympiad, where we won the silver medal in 2004. Unfortunately, Susan Polgar, who had a great result on first board last time, is not playing, but our other top players are young and improving and we still expect to do well. Those eligible include US Women’s Champion Anna Zatonskih, Irina Krush, and Rusudan Goletiani.
Unfortunately, it is expensive to send ten players and two captains overseas- about $60,000 to $70,000, depending on how much the players are paid. We appreciate the help of our official sponsor, the Kasparov Chess Foundation ($30,000) and our supporting sponsor, the Internet Chess Club ($5000), but without more donations, USCF will be over budget and the players cannot be paid what they deserve. It would be a shame to send less than our best team, or to provide our brightest stars with inadequate support, so I appeal to all members to please contribute whatever you can afford. Donations are tax deductible if made payable to the US Chess Trust; write “Olympiad” on your check and send to Olympiad Appeal.
Corrections:
It was not my decision not to play. It was the decision of the USCF. I have never even received an official invitation for the 2006 team and the Olympiad is just a little more than a month away. I have no idea who are the team members and who will be the captain. Will the players vote for the captain as in the past or will the sponsor / USCF pick the captain? A great captain can help the team win as demonstrated in the last Olympiad for the US Women’s Team.
I told the USCF at a meeting during the 2005 US Open that I am not going to participate in any Olympiad Team that is not serious about winning. We should take pride in representing our country. It should not be treated as a free and fun vacation to Italy. The only reason why we came home with a whole bunch of medals (1 team Silver, 1 individual Silver and 2 individual Gold – First ever medals for the US Women’s Team) last time is because of the serious Women’s Olympiad Training Program that I created. The program was there to prepare the team 18 months in advance.
The Susan Polgar Foundation made an official offer to the USCF in the beginning of 2005 for an amount between $40,000 – $60,000 to sponsor the 2006 US Women’s Olympiad Training Program and Team. That means that the USCF would not have to spend a single penny for the 2006 US Women’s Team. The offer was immediately rejected by the former USCF President Beatriz Marinello in favor of the $30,000 sponsorship package by the KCF (for both Men’s and Women’s Team and not just for the Women) with absolutely no training program! No explanation was given for this incredible decision.
In addition, the USCF also signed an illegal contract with the sponsor under the direction of the previous Executive Board without informing members of the 2004 team. We were lied to by a few members of the last Executive Board and by the Sponsor when the matter was confronted.
I asked the USCF to reconsider their decisions because I will not be involved in any illegal matter. I was basically told that if I don’t like it then go ahead and sue the federation and the sponsor. Unfortunately, there is not much the current board can do to reverse what was done. That means that I will not be able to play for the US until 2012 at the earliest. No, I will not sue the federation or the sponsor. It will only hurt US Chess further. Once again, this is dirty politics at its worst. 
This is not the first time Ms. Marinello has done things like this. She’s the typical chess politician.
Cindy
I’m really disgusted with the way how the USCF has handle this matter. They don’t care about winning and it shows. Everytime there’s a blunder, they expect the members to pay for it. How typical!
Best,
Juan
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Why is Marinello still on the board? Hasn’t she ruined the USCF enough already? Randy Bauer, Elizabeth S. and George John lost their election bid because of her. She’s the genius behind promoting the drug Natrol to kids. She doesn’t give a damn about anyone but herself. This is sickening!
Hi Susan-
This is very discouraging news! Who was the illegal contract with and why will it take till 2012 to get out of it? I have seen next to nothing about the Olympiad in Chess Life, Ladies or Gentlemen! I voted for the new group on the board, did I make a mistake?
Best…John Kunz
Sci-Tech Chess
Dear John,
The contract was signed in the middle of 2004 while the USCF had a legal contract with the Susan Polgar Foundation. How can you sign a second contract with a different organization while the first one was still 100% legal? Our contract did not expire until the end of 2004. That second contract gave the next sponsor the option for 2006 which they exercised.
We did not know about it. We were lied to our faces when we asked. Everything was kept quiet until 2005 when we submitted a $40-$60K proposal which is 4-5 times larger than any other proposal.
There is nothing the new board can do legally. The decision was made by Ms. Marinello. I am not even sure if her board knew about it or not just like they did not know that she signed a deal with Natrol.
The new board and the new ED have tried very hard to mend fences. They have done a very good job on many issues. The new ED has done an incredible job. So has the new Scholastic Director.
Unfortunately, the damages have been done. The new sponsor has the program until 2010 which does not include any training whatsoever.
As I stated before, I will not play for a non-serious team. The SPF has done an incredible job with the program from every aspect such as sponsorship, training, marketing, PR, etc. We came back with unprecedented success. Why on earth would the best ever program be taken away from us?
We are a little more than a month before the next Olympiad and there are virtually nothing about the next team. There is no promotion of the team. Everything is kept quiet. Let’s see how many medals will this team come back with?
2006 would be our last serious chance to win the Gold. The current format is 3 players + 1 alternate. The new format in 2008 and after would be 4 players + 1 alternate. We do not have 5 deep. China, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, India, and Hungary do. China, Russia, Georgia and Ukraine can go 7-8-9 deep. It means that we virtually have no chance for the Gold and very small chances to medal. It is very unfortunate that we did not have a chance to come back to go for the Gold in 2006.
No one knows who will be on the 2006 team, who will be the coach or captain. How do you expect to win this way? It was purely a political decision without any regard to the welfare of US Chess.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.ChessForPeace.blogspot.com
I don’t get it; why can’t you play until 2012?
She can’t play because the other sponsor has the contract thru 2010 and does not provide a serious commitment to creating a strong team with training. Also the Olympiad is only every other year.
If this doesn’t clear it up, re-read Susan’s post until it makes sense.
To: Bill Goichberg
From: A USCF Member
Bill,
By my calculations the World Open this year alone will profit your company Continental Chess Association over $250,000 alone. Please stop asking the poor for money. You pinch pennies so hard that you squeeze a booger out of Lincoln’s nose.
I don’t think Kamsky can do this:
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1141798831.shtml
by the way (*tusk tusk)
who of the US (*smile smile) players is born in US?
there should be at least one … ONE! ok – nakamura …
…
greetz, Vohaul
Nakamura was born in Japan, not the US. There is no American born.
The US Women’s Team has no chance to win without Susan. Shame on the KCF. Kasparov is known to burn every bridge he’s ever crossed. He pissed off Intel, Microsoft, etc. He’s the one creating the mess with the World Championship. It’s Kasparov way or you can go to hell.
It’s too late for this Olympiad but does it have to be a single sponsor? If KCF is willing to provide cash and SPF is willing to provide not only cash but training as well, why not take advantage of both?
In order for that to happen, I think everyone needs to know what is in the contract between the KCF and the USCF. If the KCF has control over things such as team selection, coaching staff, captain, etc., then there is no point for the SPF or any other organization to be involved. Very few trust the KCF.
But why? If KCF is giving money, I think they have good intentions. It’s not like they earn anything in return…
A lot of free publicity! Why else? They were wrong to do what they did to the team and the SPF. They were wrong to make under the table deals and destroy the team. Jane
It’s not good intention. It’s about ego. They want to show they can do more than the SPF. Let’s see how many medals this team will win. Will they win more than 4 from the last team? I doubt they will even win one. That’s not good then. Why change a success formula? Why make an under the table deal when others can do more and offered more? That’s typical Kasparov. When we can’t beat them, play dirty.
In reply to various comments regarding the Olympiads:
1. There is nothing in the April Chess Life about who the US players are because that issue went to press in early March, and the invitational ratings include the US Championship which had not been completed at that time.
2. Susan Polgar did not receive an invitation because she did not fulfill the activity requirement. Susan also had told me several months before that she would be unable to play on the team in 2006, regardless of who the sponsor is.
3. The invitations have gone out with a deadline for acceptance of April 10. The players will then choose their captains if their choice is unanimous; if not the Executive Board will decide.
4. It was a mistake for the previous Executive Board to not consider the offer made by the Susan Polgar Foundation in early 2005 for at least $40,000 in Olympiad funding. When our Board took office in Phoenix (August 2005) I told Paul Truong that we wanted to consider this offer but he replied that the previous Board had missed this opportunity, the sponsorship was no longer available, and we should consider the offer from KCF (Kasparov Chess Foundation) instead.
5. Susan writes, “The contract was signed in the middle of 2004 while the USCF had a legal contract with the Susan Polgar Foundation. How can you sign a second contract with a different organization while the first one was still 100% legal? That second contract gave the next sponsor the option for 2006 which they exercised.”
The first contract was signed in 2003, involving KCF as well as SPF, and provided for 2003 training expenses for the 2004 Women’s Olympiad. After USCF notified KCF and SPF that it would not continue to provide matching funds for 2004 training, the second contract signed in 2004 with KCF dealt with that training and the 2004 Women’s Olympiad itself, for which KCF paid the expenses and player fees. KCF also provided partial funding for the 2004 US Women’s Championship.
The second contract gave KCF an option to renew its Women’s Olympiad sponsorship for 2006, but they chose not to exercise this option. Instead they submitted a new proposal to provide funding for both our overall team and women’s team, a total of $30,000 each Olympiad year overall, plus an additional $10,000 if either team wins a medal. The new Board had no other sponsorship offer and after months of negotiation, accepted the KCF offer for the 2006, 2008 and 2010 Olympiads, with KCF having an option on the 2012 Olympiad.
6. Susan writes, “The new sponsor has the program until 2010 which does not include any training whatsoever.” While it is true that the KCF sponsorship does not include training, neither does it preclude it. With the KCF sponsorship, we have $30,000 or $40,000 per Olympiad towards team expenses and fees and no money for training. Without the KCF sponsorship, we would have nothing towards team expenses and fees, and still no funds for training.
7. The contract with KCF names that organization as the official sponsor and gives them the publicity rights. It gives them no control over team selection, coaches, or captains.
Bill Goichberg
USCF President
Bill,
Thanks for your input. However, I must disagree with you on a few issues. I specifically told you that I will not play if the KCF is the sponsor. I also told Mr. Channing and Mr. Schultz this in Kansas. I made no mentioning of other sponsors. I would be happy to play for other sponsors if there would be a serious training program. This is very important to me. I am a World Champion. I am not going to compete in any event without serious preparation. You saw the results when we took the Olympiad seriously in 2004. I would have had no problem setting up training programs for the team myself if the USCF decided to involve me. But I want to have nothing to do with the KCF until Garry can explain to me why the KCF did what they did to the team and if he knew anything about it.
The KCF lied to all members of the team and the head coach went against all four players and captain in matters that did not concern him and that he had no knowledge of. I also told Mr. Schultz and Channing that if the USCF grants the KCF the sponsorship for only 2006, I would re-approach my sponsor for the 2008 Olympiad and beyond. The board decided to give the KCF a 3 Olympiad deal. There goes that.
You approached both Paul and I about bidding against the KCF in August 2005, 8-9 months before the Olympiad.
A. It would be unethical since the KCF has the option for 2006. I am not going to behave the same way they did. Paul and I do not operate this way. We believe in ethics and principle.
B. It was too late. Ms. Marinello and the USCF insulted my sponsor and I in the beginning of 2005 and the sponsor withdrew the $40-$60K offer. We were told that there was no possibility for the SPF to sponsor the team in 2006 and the deal belongs to the KCF. How much more clear can that be? She told me point blank that the KCF exercised the 2006 option. That means someone lied to me.
In response to the second contract, I started the program. The KCF was no where in sight when things started. They came in many months later when I approached them. You know that. We had a program that I ran with unprecedented success. The KCF was only responsible for sponsoring the team and setting up training sessions. Everything else was done by me and the SPF. There were many sponsors, not just the KCF.
Why was I not informed about the new contract with the KCF in 2004 with the option for 2006? I never authorized this and I still had a legal contract. Where was the written consent by me or termination by the USCF? I authorized to waive the matching funds for 2004 but I never authorized for the termination of the contract with the SPF. This was done illegally and behind my back.
I had no knowledge of this whatsoever. When I asked the KCF and Ms. Marinello, I was not told about the option for 2006. Why would I go to my sponsor to ask for $40-$60K if I knew of this option by the KCF? This was a very unethical action by the previous board. When I found out about this 2006 option with the KCF, Ms. Marinello basically told me to go ahead and sue the USCF and KCF if I don’t like it.
On top of this, you personally acknowledged that the 2003 contract with the SPF was valid because you were the one who sent me a registered letter after the 2004 Olympiad to cancel that contract. Why would you do this if the contract was not valid. Therefore, that makes the signing of the contract with the KCF and giving them the option for 2006 unethical if not illegal.
When I started this program, I reached out and brought in other people including the KCF. I tried to unite everyone. The KCF never reached out to me or anyone. On top of this, this board never approached me about helping the team or setting up the training program. Even if I do not play, my expertise could have helped the team tremendously. This was the USCF decision, not mine. The SPF was the founder and one of the major sponsors of the 2004 US Women’s Olympiad Program. How do you expect to attract others if this is how the USCF treats their partners and sponsors?
It is too late to change anything now. This board made a decision to go with the KCF until 2010 instead of just 2006 for the women’s team. The decision is final and I must respect that decision. I wish the teams and the KCF the best of luck. That means that my day of playing for the US Olympiad is over. I am just very sad that we did not have a chance to go for the Gold in 2006. This would be our last chance for many years to come.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org
Bill, the USCF should not have rewarded such behavior by the KCF with 3 Olympiad. That was wrong. I can understand giving them the men’s olympiad but why women? The SPF had the most success ever. Bad mistake.
George
Why didn’t the USCF ask Susan to help with the training program? Amazing! Just amazing! She’s probably pne of the most successful Olympians ever and we don’t ask her to help? Just amazing!
Rob
Bill,
I hope you’re not pointing the fingers at Susan. I was in Houston last year. I saw the people from the KCF taking Susan’s flyers about her girl’s tournament and throwing it in the garbage. Even USCF Senior TDs saw this. Beatriz was trying to protect the KCF and their despicable action. They even told girls not to go to Susan’s tournament because it’s not so important. I know this because the said this to my daughter in front of me.
The KCF has done many questionable things. Money should not be the only issue. Was it OK for Beatriz to accept money from Natrol to promote stuff to kids? Of course not. The USCF should be above this.
Regards,
Chris
I would never support any project by the KCF. Sorry. Bad move by the USCF.
Susan, you did tell me that for 2008 and after you will not play if KCF is the sponsor, but for 2006 you said you could not play no matter who the sponsor was, due to other commitments. This was well after you spoke to Channing and Schultz in Kansas and apparently you made the other commitments in the interim.
I’m not defending the actions of the previous Board; as I said they should have considered your 2006 sponsorship proposal, and I also think they should have informed you about the KCF contract. However, I don’t think the KCF contract was illegal as nothing in it invalidated anything in the earlier contract between USCF, SPF and KCF. The first contract provided for USCF matching funds and the second one for KCF sponsorship; they were not in conflict.
In August 2005 when the new Board took office and I expressed interest in the SPF proposal, apparently it was simply too late as you say. However, it would not have been unethical for you to compete with the KCF proposal because KCF was not exercising its option and was making a new proposal.
You say “This board made a decision to go with the KCF until 2010 instead of just 2006 for the women’s team.” However, we were never offered the chance for just 2006; the KCF offer was for a long term agreement and after much negotiation its length was shortened. For 2006 alone, the new Board had no offer from either KCF or SPF and faced the risk of having no sponsorship at all.
The 2004 silver medal result was a team effort by the players, SPF and KCF. When you write, “The KCF was only responsible for sponsoring the team and setting up training sessions” it seems to me that the word “only” is not appropriate, and that you are dismissing a very significant contribution by KCF.
You write, “I want to have nothing to do with the KCF until Garry can explain to me why the KCF did what they did to the team and if he knew anything about it.” I hope you do speak to Garry about your concerns and that the result is your participation in the 2008 Olympiad.
Bill Goichberg
I’m hoping for that miracle- that everyone will work together for 2008. Unlike 2004, KCF will have no control whatever over the team; there is no reason why SPF can’t offer to sponsor a training program with or without KCF involvement. I don’t see why the fact that USCF is receiving sponsorship from KCF should prevent the participation of you or SPF. Thanks for your frank discussion of these issues, Susan.
Thank you Bill! You know I support what this board is trying to do. I am hoping for a miracle as well. I just don’t like when I am being lied to.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
How many times have Marinello have done unethical stuff like this. I remember her trying very hard to block Susan’s girl tournament and yet she has no problem endorsing a girl’s tournament from Kasparov Chess Foundation.
She block a training program by Karpov to endorse the same thing from Kasparov.
How does this look when she was on the payroll of Kasparov Chess? I’m sick of this kind of behavior from her. She’s bad news for us chess.
Javier
She’s a typical scummy chess politician who will do anything for a buck.
I’m personally shocked at the behavior of Mrs. Beatriz Marinello and the KCF. They made countless under the table deals to eliminate all competition from Polgar to Karpov and AF4C. That’s disgusting. Mrs. Beatriz was an employee of Kasparov. That’s a big conflict of interest. She should have withdraw herself from these issues. Now chess has to suffer because of crooked chess politician like this.
Pedro
To Susan Polgar and Bill Goichberg
I’ve been reading this discussion for few days now and it seems like the biggest issue is the lack of communication between the people involved. I think Bill or somebody else from USCF should organize a meeting where USCF, SPF and KCF are present in one room with the discussion of what worked in the past, what did not work and how it can work better in the future. All parties involved have to commit to the productive and constructive discussion not finger-pointing blame pushing match. Learn from the past and use it for the future! As all three organizations consider the promotion of chess and getting best chess results as their goal, you have to combine your efforts and the results then improve exponentially. For example, combining some girls events will bring bigger participation and allow for more publicity, combining the efforts for Olympiad team will result in well-sponsored and well-trained team. And there is no need to wait until 2010, the conversation should happen much sooner.
As a chess parent of a girl who seems seriously interested in chess, the politics between main organizations in US scare me more than the lack of girls events or other issues. Is that what she will have to deal with if she remains in chess?
I really hope that you can reconcile the differences, get over the issues from the past and be able to leverage and appreciate different approaches and strengths that all people can bring to the table.
Diana
Dear Diane,
Wonderful idea. I am ready to meet Garry, Mr. Bill Goichberg and other members of the EB at anytime to discuss these issues. Garry knows how to reach me. The USCF knows how to reach me.
My problem was never with Garry. I admire Garry and some of the things he has done for chess. My problem is with some of the people running the KCF and affiliated with the KCF. My teammates and I were lied to numerous times and none of us were able to talk to Garry about this. He’s always been shielded very well.
It is unthinkable in my opinion that Garry would have authorized some of the actions taken if he would have known the actual situation. I highly doubt that he would condone the lying to members of the 2004 US Women’s Olympiad team. As I said before, I am very curious to hear directly from Garry.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
I squarely put the responsibility on the KCF. They’re the one who betrayed the women’s team. They’re the one who made unethical deals with Beatriz Marinello who was a former employee of Kasparov Chess to block the progress of other organizations.
How do you explain Beatriz speaking out about all girl’s tournaments from other organizations but endorsed the events by the KCF. She wanted to block all other events but went to Chicago to praise the KCF for their girl’s event. Isn’t this conflict of interest?
I agree with Susan. It’s time for Mr. Kasparov to speak up. Is this his foundation or is he just a name? Why didn’t Mr. Kasparov show up at his own girl’s event in the first 2 years?
Regards,
Sam
There’s no defense to what the KCF did. They think they can disrespect our players just because they throw in some money. There’re things money can’t buy but they just don’t get it, do they?
I fully support Susan’s decision not to play for them. Good for her. Too many players would do unethical things just for money. I’m glad she’s not one of them.
Best,
Juan
Why was Khodarkovsky the coach of the team? He’s 2200, nearly 200 points lower than the lowest rated player on the team. What can he teach the players? Not much. Was this one of those conditions for KCF’s sponsorship?
Susan,
Thank you for your response.
Bill,
I would appreciate if you can share your plan of bringing everybody together to close these issues and move forward.
Diana