Here is a quote from Garry Kasparov about Radjabov dropping out of Linares / Morelia according to Mig Greengard on Chess Ninja:
Kasparov in brief: “I wouldn’t have played either. The organizers have a responsibility. This is Linares, not some open tournament. What’s most remarkable so far is there were no comments from Radjabov’s colleagues in Morelia, no words of support. So much for solidarity.”
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
I wish Kasparov’s comments weren’t so universally negative these days. It seems like everything he writes or says is bashing someone or other. Refer to the past several issues of New In Chess for some recent examples of this.
Has Danailov denied stealing Radjabovs databases yet?
veselintopalov.net supported him, Gary should read before speak
Maybe Kasparov can get away with dictating to organizers that he be pampered, but hardly any top-level chess player can do that. And that isn’t going to change much if the top-level players band together and show “solidarity”.
There is only number one chess player. But at the next level down, there are literally dozens of grandmasters with ratings within a fifty points of one another, any of whom would be competitive in a “Super-GM” tournament.
And there aren’t very many people organizing Super-GM tournaments. That is why organizers in places like Mexico, with its security problems for travelers, get to stage Super-GM tournaments.
And does Topalov personally run veselintopalov.net?
>>The veselintopalov.net team, as well as the many fans who wrote us letters on the issue, would like to express their support for Radjabov.
>>
It’s interesting that they claim that many fans wrote to THEM about this. Especially since they don’t have a contact e-mail address posted on their site. How does anybody know where to write?
Apparently veselintopalov.net is NOT directly written by Topalov.
The Welcome page says
“Thank you Veselin for bringing so much emotion into the chess game!”
Either he didn’t write it, or he’s thanking himself, which would be incredibly pompous.
So Kasparov is right. None of the players have expressed support.
Hee hee. Topalov.net thanks him for bringing emotion into the game?? He’s certainly done that, hasn’t he! LOL
It is naive to believe that a top GM would have the time to work on a website. He rather approves what’s written. So, the support for Radja is there..
It’s naive to think that anyone said he wrote it. Just the opposite. He doesn’t write it, so he hasn’t supported Radja. If he wanted to support Radja he could just talk to any reporter he meets and say he supports Radja, but he doesn’t want to do that. It’s nice that he didn’t ask his fan site to NOT support him, but that’s pretty lukewarm stuff. How about some actual support?
Hellloooo? Topalov doesn’t write veselintopalov.net. What’s wrong with a word or two from the man himself saying “I support Radja”?
If this is support, it’s almost insulting. “No, I won’t speak for you myself, but I’ve allowed my fan club to say a few words for you.” Gee, you’re all heart, Vesko.
I think the correct way to express support is through the website. Exactly as it was done. The rest is childish jabber.
I will heat things up a bit. What did Kramnik or ACP say in support? At least Topalov fan semi official or whatever) site expressed that they are disturbed. Well done by them. Seem very nice people.
>> Anonymous said…
veselintopalov.net supported him, Gary should read before speak
Saturday, February 17, 2007 9:13:00 AM >>
That was not acceptable support. That was phoney support.
Kramnik? Why bring up Kramnik? He’s not part of this tournament. Also, no one has made any false statements about him supporting Radj!
It’s a tournament, baby. How do you imagine someone of the participants go forward and say “I personally support Radjabov”. Very childish.
The Topalov site support begins and ends with a statement about the police. Nothing about what happened or the organizers responsibilities.
I bet Chiparinov would love to have all that analysis. I bet Topalov would love to get all that analysis from Chiparinov. I bet Danailov would love to have that analysis.
Kind of funny the way it happened. A bunch of chess guys move into a hotel and go for a quick bite to eat and a main competitor gets his analysis stolen just like that.
I am not paranoid but I agree with Radjabov as to the way things happened, it is very suspicious. But we need more details to make a better decision on this foul play.
Now back to cheating over the board.
When you give support for someone -that is enough. Do not TELL others to support them. a) they may know something you don’t (I’m not saying there is anything) b) Now if they DO give support, its value is diminished as it may seem they are either simply following you or wishing to avoid your disapproval (or that of others e.g in this blog) Banjanx
If my memory is correct, I think some ice skater had a friend go out with a baseball bat and break the ankle of her ice skating competitor.
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/winter-olympics-harding.html
It all started on Jan. 6, 1994. Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by a metal-baton-wielding assailant as she left the ice after a practice session in Detroit.
Originally favored to win the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the now-injured Kerrigan was forced to the sidelines.
In her absence, 1991 champion Tonya Harding captured the spotlight, the U.S. title, and a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the following month’s Winter Games in Lillehammer.
It didn’t take long for the mystery to unravel.
Assault accomplice Shawn Eckardt caved and told the FBI about the plot that was hatched with Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, to get Kerrigan out of the way.
Eventually Harding admitted that she knew about the attack after the fact but failed to come forward. The United States Olympic Committee was about to kick Harding off the team when a $25 million lawsuit filed by Harding’s lawyers changed its mind.
The attack on Kerrigan’s knee might not have seemed so bad to her compared to the crush of tabloid journalists that descended on her in the next few weeks as she tried to recover.
Kerrigan recovered in time to compete in Lillehammer, and the stage was set for the ultimate showdown. The suffocating media coverage gave the entire proceedings an electric atmosphere. It was good versus evil on the world’s biggest stage. It was called the Battle of Wounded Knee II.
Heading into the finals, Kerrigan was in first place, ahead of Ukrainian teenager and world champion Oksana Baiul and France’s Surya Bonaly. Harding was a distant 10th.
In the finals, a controversial 5–4 split among the judges gave the gold to Baiul by the slimmest of margins. Kerrigan got silver, and Harding got to stay out of jail, which is more than can be said for her ex-husband and the band of goons he hired to club Kerrigan.
The police and FBI investigated this one.
In Mexico, they could have looked for fingerprints. Just imagine if one of the other players had his fingerprints in Radj’s room. Or if one of the other players has the laptop in his room right now. On what basis does anyone claim the robbery was done by random people. It seems more likely to be done by or for another player.
>>I will heat things up a bit. What did Kramnik or ACP say in support?>>
Your heater’s not working. Nobody says that Kramnik, the ACP, or any of those people have supported him. So far, Kasparov is the only GM to speak up. The Topalistas are the one trying to claim Topalov supports Radja, when in fact Topalov hasn’t opened his mouth yet.
“Just imagine if one of the other players had his fingerprints in Radj’s room.”
You’re dreaming. None of the players did this personally. Even if they had, a chessplayer would be smart enough to wear gloves. The Kerrigan example is nutty. Nobody attacked Radjabov, and Tonya Harding didn’t attack Nancy Kerrigan personally, so this has nothing to do with anything.
Well informed, good English, a person from the western hemisphere, I guess. Let me look in your brain….wow, that mysterious player should be…Topa, right?
It is obvious to all who is behind the theft. Please put 2 + 2 together. Those notes and databases were valuable to none other than a Super-GM, the question then is which one?
Topalov has got a reputation for sleeze, but there’s no reason to suspect even him in this case. The Police should still have investigated, though. What a horrible ad for the country, when even a VIP visitor gets the cold shoulder.
Definitely Topalov is the big winner on this one. His main rival is now gone. This reduces his need to cheat with Danailov.
And if Radj had stayed in the tournament, the analyses could be helpful if obtained by any of the players. Especially if you have a full time analyist with you like Chiparinov.
I have an interesting question. When was the last time that a new guest has his room broken into at that same hotel and a computer stolen. Now if nothing like this has happened in say a couple of years. That would increase suspicion that Radjabov is correct about who did the crime.
If this kind of crime is common at the hotel. It happens several times a week. Then it probably was a random robbery.
Now if nothing like this has happened in say a couple of years. That would increase suspicion that Radjabov is correct about who did the crime.>>
Read Radjabov’s comments again. He never suggested any of the players had anything to do with it. He was targeted because he was a tourist carrying valuables, whose arrival was known long in advance. The other players are at risk too.
When saying a couple of minutes ago “that mysterious player should be…Topa, right” I really didn’t suspect I was is such a kindergarten. Sorry, guys!
You didn’t know you were a kindergarten?? Is that really what you meant to say?
What I mean is that I do not believe in conspiracy theories. Once you exchange “is” with “in” you’ll resolve the puzzle..
“I bet Chiparinov would love to have all that analysis. I bet Topalov would love to get all that analysis from Chiparinov. I bet Danailov would love to have that analysis.
…
I am not paranoid but…”
You are not paranoid – you are stupid!
“Against stupidity the Gods themselves contend in vain”
-who said that (Asimov)
Carlsen’s father has a blog, and on this blog there is a statement of sympathy to Radjabov.
What is Carlsen’s father’s blog’s address?
Regardless of Kasparov’s comments, he is the greatest chess player in modern history. Topalov, despite his 1 or 2 point rise above Kasparov, is no where near Kasparov’s strength.
If Kasparov were to take the time to practice and “get back into competitive” chess there is no doubt he would once again be the undisputed World Champion.
In an historical perspective, only Paul Morphy was so superior to his contemporaries.
Kasparov left chess not because of Russian politics, but the rise of computers that would eventually defeat him (considered the best ever) virtually each game. It would be only a matter of time.
He retired at the very moment when he could say that he tied the best computer avaialable at the time.
He was worried more about how history would judge him if he continued to play and perform worse and worse against ever more sophisticated computers.
Still, with some practice, he could easily regain the World Title as he is still the best human player in the world. This doesn’t mean he’d never lose to other super-gm’s…but, overall, once “back in form,” he’d easily defeat Kramnik, Topalov, Anand, Svidler, Leko, Short, Adams…IN A MATCH…not just a single game.
I hope he returns to chess. He’d defeat either Kramnik or Topalov and prove he’s still the best. However, against computers…even Kasparov couldn’t defeat the newest versions of Rybka or Shredder.
Did you check out veselintopalov.net before speaking out!?