The rumor from Elista is Kramnik has brought in the big guns: super GM Svidler and Bareev. No one seems to know their official capacity but I assume to help him with his preparation. Does that mean that we will have game 6 tomorrow? I certainly hope so! I think most of us have had enough of this mess and we are looking forward to some real fighting chess.
In the likely event that the game will be on as planned, I will be doing the LIVE commentary and analysis right here at 7 AM (NY time) tomorrow morning!
What do you think? Will we have a game tomorrow?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Game 6? Egads! I hope not! Game 5 was won by the Topolov Toilet Gambit which is a better strategy than capitalizing on a mate in 3 he had 3 games previously. They ought to award the match and title to Kramnik outright.
Topa had every right to file a complaint, but the “won’t shake hands thing” was a disgrace. Legally, I don’t know enough to have an informed opinion if the Appeals Committee got it right.
Kramnik had a chance to look like a real champion. Kramnik should have used whatever restroom Topalov wanted him to use and still won. That’s how a real champion would act. Not showing up for a WCC game over a toilet is really petty.
Which ever player gives in on the free-point argument will be a hero to the chess public, in stark contrast to his villan opponent.
However, reputation plus $4 will get you a latte at Starbucks.
Reading the letters collected by ChessBase.com, I was stunned at how one-sided, how lopsided public opinion is in favor of Kramnik. I had expected Topalov would have at least a little sympathy.
Well Topalov does have at least one sympathetic supporter:
[Jason Buczyna, Charlottesville Virginia, USA]
Buczyna publicly and fully accuses Kramnik of cheating by using a computer:
“… I was already fairly sure that Kramnik was cheating. I didn’t have 100% proof, something that is usually impossible to come about anyway, but I had enough to convince me he was probably cheating before I had knowledge of the toilet affair
… outside of the blunders have been long strings of Rybka moves, something very unusual in a match between humans”
Well I guess that proves it.
Gene Milener
http://CastleLong.com/
Well, Topalov’s Toilet Gambit was met by Kramnik’s Fried Bladder Attack, by which he achieved an advantage in Space but fell fatally behind in Time.
Kramnik should not budge on his demand that the score be 3-1. If he does, Topalov and FIDE can and will subject him to more baseless, senseless, humiliating, inhumane treatment, against all moral and ethical codes…consult the UN and Geneva convention.
3-2 is the deal breaker.
If Kramnik allows this result to stand, he allows Topalov and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to set a dangerous precedent: that they can, and will change the rules at their whim anytime during the match to aid Topalov. This violates ALL international [Olympic, etc] rules of fair play and sportsmanship.
Rather than lose like a man in face-to-face play, Topalov and team-Ilyumzhinov have effectively sabotaged the match in a desparate, cowardly ploy.
This could be the final straw in FIDE’s straglehold on chess.
Let us pray so.
I hope Topalov will kick Kramnik’s arrogant behind.
Kramnik will get crushed by Topalov now. We will soon see how lucky Kramnik was in the first 2 games.
I hope Kramnick will kick Topalov’s arrogant behind right into that contentious toilet.
I was a Topalov backer going into this match, based on styles of play. Now, however, I find myself rooting for Kramnik. The behavior of the Topalov team has been disgraceful.
Kramnik refused to play the 5th game.
He was rightly punished for his sin.
End of story.
Kramnik is so afraid that he needs the help of Svidler and Bareev…
Maybe he is so afraid he will even refuse to continue the match…
Pitiful.
This is not a chess match between the managers. This is the noble game between Topolov and Kramnik for the world championship (the unification match). Let them show class in their conducts. Let them show their artistry on the chessboard. Let them play chess!
Like irishspy said,
***I was a Topalov backer going into this match, based on styles of play. Now, however, I find myself rooting for Kramnik. The behavior of the Topalov team has been disgraceful.***
Count me another convert to Kramnik’s side!! I do wish his chess were rather more exciting, but solid gets the job done.
Topalov and his manager should not take one free full point for the 5th game even if it was offered by FIDE or Kramnik. It’s a posion point which will ruin Topalov’s reputation. They should reject the offer!
i supported Kramnik in this match earlier, but have now decided i was right to dislike his character and can not in good conscience hope for him to win, even if his style is more to my liking.
And if anyone should wonder how can i change my view after reading just one interview with Danailov, it is because it is only after that when everything started making sense to me.
Arrogance is one thing, and self-confidence is another, and a chessplayer’s behaviour should be impeccable while at the chessboard.
Hopefully Topalov will be the unified WC.
Again, i must commend Susan Polgar for not jumping into conclusions like just about everyone else but always being willing to look at both sides of the story.
Guys, look at the big picture. This is the much needed unification match for the chess world. Team Topalov and Team Kramnik should show unity instead.
yesss, let me see:
– Dolmatov and other russians claim Topalov is cheater.
– Kramnik himself says he can’t say that he is not.
– Kramnik demands a barrier, in order to prevent “cheating”. A barrier is put even without agreement from Topalov.
These are not insults?
Where were all of you “moral” guys back then ? Hiding?
– Vice-prezident of Russia (by “coincidense” also chief of Russian Chess federation), DEMANDS what the president of FIDE should do.
– Kramnik says that he won’t play unless his favourite pillow is given to him. Oh, wait its not a pillow but a toilet …
All this bullshit is fine, because?
And if Topalov makes a single protest, he is the bad guy?
Because he sat on the chess board willing to play?
Kramnik reacted as insulted kid.
“Where were all of you “moral” guys back then ?”
For myself, i can say i didn’t follow the off the board stuff until the protest, i had no idea these kinds of things you mention were happening. i thought, for example, that the wall had been installed without requests.
Actually i thought the press conference after 4th game was strange, that Kramnik’s comments were over the top but i thought he was half-joking.
But you see, these things were not publicized in the same way at all, or if they were, i certainly didn’t see them on chessbase.
This is the beatuful game of Chess, not poker. Please play the board and don’t play the man. For the records sake, no more blunders please!
2 kehaar
I have no idea why chessbase decided that “these things” are not important.
Also non-important:
At the night before game 2 in Topalov’s rooms there was a water-conduit malfunvtion, causing a brigade of workers coming early at morning in order to fix it.
Coincidense? maybe
Let someone who is GM tell me how important is for a player to sleep well at a night before important game? And if someone doing repairs at the place you live, sleep and prepare is really helping?
Notice I’m not claiming that russians made this intentionally, oh, no, the campaign against Topalov in Russian media, the barrier put without asking permission… all these are coincidencies to happen just before a match for title of WC champion between him and a russian
LOL
I hope Kramnik plays and beats crybaby whimp Topalov who disgracefully is taking the point he did not earn over the board. The photo of Topalov and his manager smiling at the forfeit win shows what scoundrels they are. The law and spirit of the law were not followed in this case as Bessel said. Topalov and his manager are a disgrace to chess and should be barred from all chess tournaments/matches for one year as punishment for their unsportsmanship behavior.
anonymous:
Incredible.
Also very sad that in the court of public opinion, the wrong people are always sentenced.
90% of the people will never change their views about who’s fault all of this is, they will find reasons to close their eyes at the critical moment so that they can go on believing the version given by people like Nunn and Keene…
In the same way, sure sure, the Russians never did anything to Fischer, no they were fair and all talk about him being ostraziced after becoming WC and Russians using unfair methods against him in tournaments before that…all nonsense! Let’s just believe the official version and be done with reason and justice.
Bessel Kok’s conclusions are logical.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3387
Now that the details are out, all related to the WC match is sick. Players are being monitored by surveillance cameras, as if they were criminals. All is sick.
What do the players wives say about this sharade?
SOLUTION:
Cancel the match, jail the players for one month (in a toliet) and donate the prize fund to charity.
Robin Hood
putin, fide president,would be dutch fide president,super gm swindler,berrnev,yasser,etc…. a good thing The Queen is English or they would have her there too…POOR TOPOLOV …Just remenber who PROVOCTED this mess..kramnik with his around two hundred toilet walks
After four games, Topalov (the fireball) was 2 full points behind Kramnik (the ice shield). Tapalov took even more risk by using the infamous “Toilet Gambit” in game 5. However, this surprised Kramnik and caused Kramnik to played the inferior line of “Toilet Gambit Accepted.” In the game, a “poison point” was offered to Tapalov, but Tapalov failed to decline it to secured game 5. For game 6, Kramnik plans to play the “Grand Masters Attack.” Now, the pressure is on Tapalov for the match is practically over unless he could prove otherwise.
i think its all over for kramnik..the psycological card has been played against him…so he now drafts stronger GMs to his aid.(svilder/bareev). i believe if the match starts at 3/2, then topalov will catch up…. kramnik should have played game 5 , but i bealive those politians in russia told him not too. and they are to be blamed for it….. when fischer didnt show up for game one and two against spassky , i didnt see fide playing those games again. so we continue the match on 3/2….
German WW11 ENIGMA code braking machine keyed the letters FIDE and out came USSR..(sorry not realy true)
After this ridiculous three ring circus act and the two clowns in the middle of it, I don’t care who wins this match. One player has a henchman dictating policy and the other player isnt medically fit to play a match. I mean over fifty restroom visits per game, that is absolutely absurd! Why isnt there a chief arbitor to make final rulings without consulting outside people such as Bessel Kok? On top of all this, these two players competing for the unification of The World Chess Championship have the personality and charisma of a funeral director and a librarian. I don’t even want to mention professionalism and integrity.
Very good question, why was Bessel Kok asked for an opinion?
Why did Yasser offer his opinion without anyone asking for it?
How about John Nunn of all people?
In all honesty, and this is not sarcasm, i think even Campomanes would’ve been more fit to give an opinion.
Why is the battle fought with open letters? Is that not a clear sign that there is manipulation of public opinion going on?
It is. But why do people ignore this simple fact?
Oh now I see that Danailov started it all. I take back my words. Sorry.
The message written at: Monday, October 02, 2006 5:38:18 AM was not written by me (the real kehaar) and i’m not taking back my words.
This is vicious behaviour and since this is happening it seems my words are hitting the right spot.
i guess i should register but i won’t.
Danailov reacted to Kramiks marathon toilet breaks that is was started it
I hope Kramnik will leave without playing. That would ruin both Topalov and FIDE. Kramnik has already proved that he is the stronger player of these two. Topalov’s Poisoned Point Gambit has backfired.
what good would that do for Chess
I was being sarcastic. You see.. I was praising Campomanes, while attacking Nunn and Bessel Kok.
I was only trying to show the lenghts of stupidity that are required to attack Kramnik here.
Of course we all agree that Kramnik is the victim in this.
not all some for some against..
This message again not by me: the real kehaar – Monday, October 02, 2006 6:04:45 AM
This is horrible. Goodbye this forum.
So now we see…the FIDE rebellion against FIDE President Ilyumzhinov and his corruption begins in earnest…first Svilder, Bareev, then soon other prominent GMs will join in the call for Ilyumzhinov’s dismissal.
‘Twas the best of times, ’twas the worst of times…
Impartial Susan publishing rumors. What a circus??
Stuart Day
Danailov is a scumbag. I think the key phrase in his interview is that bad ad is better than no ad. What he says is ridiculous. Even if Kramnik acts like a prima donna, who on earth will believe that Topalov of all people gets nervous so easily. Until now he’s been perceived as the most agressive and concentrated player, since when his nerves got so shaky?
Would you like to see a footballer who deliberately assaulted an opponent during a game be retrospectively awarded an extra goal for doing so by the head of FIFA? Would you like to see a drug’s cheat get an Olympic Gold because he’s pals with the organisers?
I assume not. I for one hope the match has already ended.
susan,
Sounds like Kramnik wants to continue.
See link below:
http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/event/kratop06/kramnikplays.html
regards