‘Carlsen may pull out if forced to play in Chennai’
Express news service
New Delhi, Mon Apr 22 2013, 01:55 hrs
Former FIDE World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov, who has also worked with Viswanathan Anand as one of his seconds (who offer their expertise in preparation for tournaments), said on Sunday that there was a chance Magnus Carlsen might pull out of the Championship match against Anand if he was forced to play in Chennai.
On Friday, FIDE and the AICF signed a memorandum of understanding, which gave Chennai the rights to host the final, provided both Anand and Carlsen agree to the arrangements.
Speaking to the media at the on-going FIDE Grand Prix chess tournament in Zug, Switzerland, Kasimdzhanov said: “I’m a bit worried that the match is going to be held in India and Magnus is seriously opposed to the idea to play there. If they push it and Magnus gets nervous we can have the situation where the Norwegian will just refuse to play, as he had done with previous candidates tournament. It’s a great match and it would be a pity if something happens. I will be happy if they find some neutral ground.”
Carlsen had earlier opted out of the Candidates tournament in the 2012 cycle though he had qualified for the event, saying the knockout-match format was not the most ideal. Norwegian media had earlier reported that Carlsen, having won the right to challenge Anand by winning this year’s Candidates event, would push for the event to be held at neutral territory, considering his unfamiliarity with the weather and food in India.
Herik Carlsen, the challenger’s father speaking at the sidelines of the Alehkine memorial, a tournament Anand is currently participating in, said he was “hoping for a full bidding process” and that “Magnus is highly motivated for this World Championship bid”.
Kasimdzhanov had worked with Anand during the Indian’s successful title defenses against Vladimir Kramnik (2008), Veselin Topalov (2010) and Boris Gelfand (2012). The Uzbekistani won the FIDE World Championship in 2004, before the re-unification of the chess world.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news
If Kasparov is on his team, he’ll sit. Kasparov hates FIDE.
A full biding process was of course necessary to show transparency, but I’m not sure it is worth postponing the inevitable.
In a contest so dependent on the mental attitude of its competitors, why would any organization even consider holding the games in a player’s home country?
Could it be money or chess politics?
If Magnus loses in India, is anyone going to think the result actually valid, knowing he had problems with the location going in?
Get that bleeping match to St. Louis so the American people can see it!
Why is this even an issue now, what happend for Kramnik Vs Topalov and Topalov vs Anand (remeber the travel issues) championship games they are not in neutral places. So Carlsen want’s play only when everything is in the way he wants, in a place of his choice and may be he will also choose to whom to play against.
Holy moly! Kramnik needs to be completely ready for this eventuality. He is playing smoking Chess right now and would be the best to go after Anand. Carlsen dominates the lower half of the field but not the top players.
Carlsen wanted a round robin tournament where he has chances, not knock-out matches. He plays very well against lower rated GMs, not against Kramnik & Aronian; he even didn’t try to win in his Candidates’ games against both of them.
FIDE changed his position, only because of Carlsen.
What else he wants? He once again will refuse to play? I think Carlsen should consider to play in India.
Just because Anand chose to surrender to FIDE and put up with the nonsense to get to the match, is no reason for Carlsen or any one else to do so.
Remember all the “wild” demands on organizers and officials made by one Bobby Fischer which ended up making professional chess better for all involved.
Players first…the apparatchik can go pound salt.
Next players would want/demand to play only in their own homes because that is most convenient!!! That is the only place all players would agree is neutral territory (for themselves), familiar weather and familiar food! For each his own.I admire Carlsen but this is too much!
FIDE is acting like a crooked monopoly and Carlsen is acting like a spoiled brat. So, they should both stop it. FIDE should open the bidding and Carlsen be happy with a good deal.
Anand is mature enough (over his career) to show-up and play the tournament, whatever the conditions, which creates Anand fans and creates chess fans, which means more money for Anand.
If Carlsen refuses to play will FIDE replace Carlsen with Kramnik (a Anand versus Kramnik world championship match)?
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From Michael
If Anand plays games on his home-field, then Carsen should be granted half the match games be played in Norway (or his favorite spot), but only if team-Carlsen can make arrangements for the site and adding to the prize fund.
Then it is fair, everyone is happy, and the experience is richer
From Michael,
Having an underwhelming champion like Anand has really lessened my interest in the championship cycle, and the idea that he should or even could be given home field advantage is an outrage. FIDE is way out of line here and no matter how loud Carlsen screams or whines, I would consider it fully justified. I’d rather see no match at all than see Anand get an unfair advantage. Neutral ground or nothing. If this match takes place in Chennai, I won’t dignify it with my attention at all.
Carsen may be out of his mind. Believe me, his excuses are useless. He will be able to call himself the No 1 player in the world if he beats Vishy Anand to win the WCC and will be thankfull to Kasparov…If he loses to Anand, who’s to blame? He will surely blame FIDE for forcing him to play in hot wheather…