Open letter by GMs Bareev and Svidler
For the past 13 years the chess world lived in a state of break-down. The Elista match was organized to determine a unified World Champion, and create conditions for the further development of chess. The match began brightly – to the delight of millions of chess fans the contestants were clearly enjoying a fair and uncompromising fight.
However, when the match went off course for the FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov, his manager Silvio Danailov blew the situation up in the most unpleasant manner, accusing Vladimir Kramnik of overly frequent visits to the toilet.
Silvio Danailov’s hard-hitting actions were clearly designed to at least put Kramnik under pressure psychologically, and at most to disrupt the match. Evidently, Mr. Danailov had no belief in the ability of his client to transform himself over the course of the match, as he has done in numerous tournaments.
Two members of the Appeals Committee, Mr. Makropoulos and Mr. Azmaiparashvili, who by their status were obliged to be neutral and uphold the law, took a morally repulsive step of handing the tapes from Kramnik’s recreation room to his opponent’s team. Then, on Danailov’s request, they unlawfully changed the playing conditions of the match, paying no attention to the fact that it is explicitly forbidden not only in the contracts signed by both players, but also in the FIDE’s own Regulations for the organization of the World Championship Match (clause 3.18.3). It is worth repeating that both Makropoulos and Azmaiparashvili are FIDE vice-presidents, and it is obvious that such unprofessional and biased people should not be at the helm of the International Chess Federation.
FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov certainly should not have accepted the point earned by Danailov in an unfair campaign against Kramnik. During the press-conference after Game 6 Veselin, clearly embarrassed, admitted that he acted impulsively when in one of his protests he threatened not to shake his opponent’s hand and stop attending the press-conferences after the games. It was odd to see how easy it was to take back the incendiary words which so offended both Kramnik and the organizers of the match. We believe that such blackmail can not be allowed, and once again FIDE and the Appeals Committee failed in their duty to do so.
By refusing to play Game 5, Kramnik forfeited a whole point in the World Championship match to fight the mean and dirty campaign waged against him. And although formally he lost, we believe that the leading players will realize that as long as Makropoulos and Azmaiparashvili are in charge of the design and running of the World Championship cycle, the future of chess is not too bright.
To the disappointment of the chess fans, a wonderful match was ruined as a spectacle to protect the financial interests of three people, and, regrettably, in the eyes of the world community chess is once again associated with scandals and dirt.
We are asking the top-grandmasters, World Champions and Ex-World Champions to express their opinion on the events of the last few days in Elista, as a number of leading Grandmasters have done already.
We are also calling on the FIDE President to sack Mr. Makropoulos and Mr. Azmaiparashvili.
GM Evgeny Bareev
GM Peter Svidler
Moscow 10-04-2006
Kramnik is cheating with a portable chess set while in the bathroom. He did the same in his match against Kasparov (kasparov complained about his frequent trips to the bathroom too) and Kramnik was not even sick then. Now that his cheating is controlled (he cannot make so many trips to the bathroom as eh likes to because of apearances) he lost!. Enogh said!
Just out of pure curiosity:
How many toilet/restroom visits Kramnik did in game 8 ?
Same question about Topalov.
26
Anonymous: Rubbish.
Yes it would be quite curious to know how many bathroom trips both Kramnik and Topalov made.
Perhaps if the scum bag Danailov can tell us it would be good. I’m sure he has something to share on this point of view.
Another day in Elista, and another open letter.
Bareev and Svidler are entirely correct, of course. But I don’t expect it to matter very much.
It is Kirsatan (and his whole gang) that needs to be sacked for the betterment of chess.
Disgust is all the feeling I can summon right now: That the possibility is growing that we will have a world champion that I will be ashamed of. I had absolutely no bias for either player before this started.
Iliyumzhinov sacking Makropoulos is the funniest thing I have heard. Makropoulos is the real person who controls FIDE. Makropoulos can sack Ilyumzhinov any time, not vice-versa.
Topalov is a computer cheater.
Given his many inaccuracies throughout the match, I think he should fire his computer.
Does not Topalov realize that unless he gives back the full point that even if he wins this title will not be unified?
Can he not, even at this point, give that full point back to Kramnik realizing this and that he has not earned it?
Even if he may feel it is deserved he should be smart enough to give it back to Kramnik on the principle that only this gesture will unify the title, due to the fact that all can argue that this point was unearned!
Even at this it will be easy to argue, even if Topalov does win that Kramnik was subjected to all means of pressure and distraction and was unable to entirely focus on the board and the match. The very, very least that Topalov can do is to give back this full point and hope that, DARE HE WIN, that the title is recognized as unified, which I highly doubt!
-Tim
I wouldn’t be asking the GM’s in Russia if Topalov cheats since it’s been proven over time that the Russian GM’s cheat.
But funny how Kramnik goes to the bathroom half of the amount of times he did in the previous games and now he loses!
I have a feeling the way Kramnik is cheating is that Team Kramnik is using the bathroom plumbing to get the message to Kramnik. They probably have a tube or wire snaked through the plumbing that comes up into the toilet with a piece of paper that is either in a ziploc or is laminated. Kramnik sees the note, then flushes the toilet which notifies whoever is at the other end to pull the tube and the note back through the plumbing.
That’s how it’s being done!
@ anonymous
There is no such thing as “slow starter” in chess. You play to your ability whether it is the 2nd or 11th game of the tournament.
I cannot agree with this statement. For example, Capalanca, who didn’t have any silicon or cellular assistance, was a slow starter in many tournaments. Also Tal was notorious for losing in the first rounds of tournaments.
Bareev and Svidler are correct in their recommendations. The match in Elista has become a circus. If the match ends 2-2 or 3-2 in favor of Topalov nothing will have been gained toward unifying the World Championship title. The result will be a net loss for chess as it will have fallen to the perceived integrity level of pro wrestling. Regardless of the competitive results in the remaining games we are highly unlikely to have an untainted Champion at the end of the match unless Topalov publically refuses to accept the forfeited game.
Tom D
“Given his many inaccuracies throughout the match, I think he should fire his computer.”
Bravo!!! I love this one!
My suspicions have been confirmed on how Kramnik is cheating!
Team Kramnik IS using the bathroom plumbing to get the message to Kramnik!
A sweep of the pipe work in the building has uncovered a lengthy wire that was snaked through the plumbing and terminated in Kramnik’s toilet! Snaked! Just like that snake Kramnik
In the garbage waiting to be burned in the building incinerator was found numerous plastic bags with scraps of paper in them with moves written on them!
Danailov will be bringing this information to an emergency press conference and will be demanding that Kramnik is forfeited from the match along with his portion of the prize fund.
You’re Sherlock Homes or what? Got toilet fever?
Tnough is enough. We all should abandon and boycot FIDE. Chessplayers just have to found a new organisation.
Kasparov was right when he split from FIDE: the organization is hopelessly corrupt.
But, if there is an attempt to clean the Augean Stables that are FIDE, I would add Kirsan to Bareev and Svidler’s list.
Maybe Putin should do it: Kirsan is his creature, after all.
You can cheat and still blunder, you just need not to cheat on EVERY move, thus the argument that Kramnik blundered because he does not cheat is nonsense.
A little logic will also show you that Kramnik games deteriorated by going to the bathroom 26 times instead of 50.
Mr. Bareev & Svidler, and respectable grandmasters we endorse your resolute cause. The ongoing match was already spoiled. Following the duo protagonists linger on to play for honor and title is endorsing mockery. The ardor of dignity disfigured. May sensible grandmasters and non masters alike step forward and support. Szusan let us not be willing victims of manipulators.
According to sources Chessbase is going to publish an article stating that Topalov was receiving assistance during the game.
From the first post:
“(kasparov complained about his frequent trips to the bathroom too)”
Is there a source for this? I don’t recall hearing about it at the time.
I have read that the claim that Kramnik went to the facilities 50 times in game 1 was an exaggeration? Is this so and by how much? People seem to have the idea that since he is going to the bathroom fewer times this implies he must have been cheating. Also if you are going to come on this forum and make accusations that Kramnik is definitely cheating then don’t be a coward and hide behind the anonymous name.
Russia domination is over! I don’t believe Russians have accepted this. Since Kasparov retired, Russian top players can barely win a tournament and failed to win gold the last two Olympiad. They have a few talented players, but even Kramnik himself complained of this fact. Here is a brief story I wrote after the Olympiad with his quote.
http://www.thechessdrum.net/newsbriefs/2006/NB_TurinEval.html
Here is the link again. It wouldn’t convert it to a hyperlink…
http://www.thechessdrum.net/
newsbriefs/2006/NB_TurinEval.html
Just another two PIPSQUEAKS Squeaking making or releasing unqualified open letters with nothing to say(orders from above)
Topalov played very fast the last 20 moves of the game. This caused Kramnik to get in time pressure. He might not have had time to go to the bathroom as many times as he is accustomed.
Were most of the 26 bathroom visits in the first part of the game?
That’s why Kramnik was in time pressure. Topalov got smart and moved fast each time Kramnik went to the toilet.
After 22 times around 3/4 way through, he only went 4 times after move 40.
Yes Topalov is playing amazingly fast (he always has double to triple the time Kramnik has in his clock) to prevent Kramnik from cheating too much (consulting his portable chess set in the toilet). Now that Kramnik is not able to consult the toilet so much he might start losing more.
What are Kramnik’s former seconds Bareev and Svidler doing in Elista? Apparently nothing else except flaming Kramnik’s dirty media campaign.