Barden on chess
Leonard Barden
Saturday February 3, 2007
The Guardian
…Danailov has been a Svengali to his player since Topalov was a teenager, and the No1 says his coach’s presence calms him during stressful games. Put like that, it is not much different to Brad Gilbert stonily watching Andy Murray. The manager has also carved out a financial niche in high places. Bulgaria’s own elite MTel Masters has backing from the country’s president, Georgi Parvanov, who publicly aligned himself with Topalov during the Toiletgate dispute. Last month Danailov was able to make a $2m bid for a Kramnik v Topalov return series, but FIDE ruled lack of time before this autumn’s championship in Mexico.
The Azeri sports minister signed a $1.5m agreement for the Topalov v Radjabov match which was aborted by Kramnik’s victory in Elista. In the Balkans and Caucasus, Danailov is the Don King of chess.
Here is the full article.
Chessbase is complaining
http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3649
chessbase.com
Topalov’s site is answering.
http://www.veselintopalov.net/article/open-letter-to-chessbase
veselintopalov.net
Comparing Danailov to Don King is a compliment. He is not there yet, but it would be good for chess despite what a few pseudo-intellectuals might think. Much maligned or not, Danailov brings a ‘can do’ attitude so much missing in this sport. I am a great believer in the Grand Slam idea – get the best, pay them more, but make them work harder (Sofia rules). Chess needs to offer a “good product”, engaging and even entertaining in order to compete for the attention of the public.
D.
I agree. Chess needs such a person who will organize Slam circle and will finish with short draws prearranged or not.
P.
OK….i REALLY DONT THINK YOUR bLOG IS A PLACE WHERE i’D LIKE TO SEE THIS SORT OF THING SUSAN. YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT…I’M REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE THIS HERE…YOU’RE USUALLY A BIT MORE CAREFULL ABOUT WHAT YOU POST. i’M DISSAPOINTED. YOU USUALLY STICK TO FACTS AND PURE IDEAS…THIS IS SENSATIONALISM AND TO TELL YA THE TRUTH ….I’M UNCOMFORTABLE READING THIS SORT OF RHETORIC ON YOUR USUALLY “CORRECT” SORT OF VIEWPOINT. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY….MAYBY YOU’RE IN A BAD MOOD?
Well, Susan just quoted an article from Guardian, as she did before about N. Short. WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM, MAN!? ARE YOU SICK?
Who cares? Just ignore this man.
They are a bad thing for our sport…
>>Much maligned or not, Danailov brings a ‘can do’ attitude so much missing in this sport.>>
Months of whining about a defeat to the point where you almost get your player banned from rated play is a can-do attitude? In your world, maybe.
>where you almost get your player banned from rated play is a can-do attitude?
You don’t know what you’re talking about. Really.
D.
Apart from Topa, Danailov is also the manager of Ponomariov (FIDE World Champion 2002-2004). But “Don King of chess”? Chessbase are already freaking out with the idea! 🙂