Breaking news, Anand is in Sofia for the World Championship
Opening ceremony, inspections, and events before the Anand – Topalov match LIVE!
14:30 CET: Close source to Chessdom.com confirmed that Viswanathan Anand has arrived in Sofia. This happened early in the morning. Anand was supposed to arrive today in this time frame, as confirmed in an interview with FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos. We are trying to get in touch with the organizing committee and Mr. Hans Walter Schmitt for another confirmation of the news.
For now we present you a long video interview with Anand was published on Al Jazeera.
Note: The article will be updated upon new details from Sofia.
The official opening ceremony of the match Anand – Topalov starts at 17:00 CET on Wednesday, April 21st.
The opening ceremony will be preceded by two important events. The organizers announced that at 10:00 CET on Wednesday there will be inspection of the playing hall, with the players and their teams. At 11:00 CET there will be a press conference with FIDE, the players, and the teams (photo of press conference room here). Some details of the opening ceremony are here.
The special curtain was tested and approved yesterday by both teams. It does not block the spectators point of view and has minor effect on the quality of photos and video. Chairs were tested and approved, but upon players request at tomorrow’s inspection they can be changed. The Chief arbiter Panaqiotis Nikolopoulos inspected carefully all details in accordance to FIDE regulations.
The only visible concern coming from Anand’s team was about the table of the match (photo here). It is the same one used during the Mtel Masters tournaments, but a more stable one was requested. The organizers will have the wish granted before tomorrows inspection.
Games start on April 23rd (if schedule remains unchanged).
Any decision yet?
So it was not that difficult in the end, was it?
The point isn’t whether the trip was difficult, but whether Anand had adequate time to prepare for the first game.
Some people are dense.
Quite right – that table is a joke.
To anon 9:01 – Anand got a 15-day postponement of the match to which the Bulgarian organizers bowed, because he wanted to play in Amber. He didn’t play in Amber. Did you forget that? Oh, but how can you forget what you don’t know? How much easier it is to sing the same mindless song – Danailov is a sleaze, Topalov is a cheat, Anand is a gentleman, hallelujah!
The Table. Talk about stupidity right under the nose of the organizers. Don’t they have a solid table something like an office table preferably Mahogany that goes with a WCC event? The table they have is something kids use to sell lemonades on a hot day.
God knows what else is in store. No wonder people need a full week to get adjusted. They can’t even get a freaking table and chair right. Isn’t there a FIDE standard and recommendation for something this basic yet important? Agh!