Gens Una Sumus
(We are all one family)
This is the motto of FIDE. This is what chess players should live by. But there will be a bitter election in 2006.
* Which candidate will follow this motto?
* Which candidate will unite and lead the chess community toward the right direction?
* Which candidate will bring chess to the next level of mainstream popularity?
* Which candidate will bring in corporate sponsorships and help raise the prize funds for professional players?
* Which candidate will do a better job with chess for young players?
* Which candidate will restore dignity and prestige back to the World Championship?
* Which candidate will respect women players and listen to their concerns?
* Which candidate will eliminate ugly chess politics and do the right things for chess?
The candidates:
– Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
http://fide.com/home/history.asp
– Leo Battesti
http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2708
– Bessel Kok and Ali Nihat Yazici
http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2736 
I thought that Karpov was also running.
I don’t think it’s official with Karpov yet.
I don’t think any of the candidates is qualified. They’re all the same.
Kirsan just has a to bad reputation as the president of Kalmykia. Allegations of fraud, murder, suppression. Apart from that I belive he has learned from his years as a Fide president, and would do a better job in the future compared to what he has done in the past.
Bessel Kok seems to be a great candidate.
Susan Polgar may be the best candidate but I don’t think she’s interested in politics.
That’s too bad because she’s better than all the candidates out there. I don’t trust the others.
I think Bessel Kok has the experience and connections to do the job, if he can stay on good terms with the top players.
I think that the person who could bring new airs to FIDE is Mr. Batesti, but he won’t win…
Kokk and Yazici, seem to be a nice team, with strong support by serious GMs, and if ACP gives them its support, it will be a very interesting project.
Ilumzhinov is the money part of actual FIDE. I think that he decides nothing in FIDE, just puts money. The one rulling there seems to me the greek man.
This team will win IMO. They have all votes already bought, i’m sure…
Why do I always have associations with a banana republic when I think of the FIDE?
Could you please explain some more about the election process and if players can vote or how that works?
I hope Karpov runs and wins. There are few players in the history of chess at his level. Was the last president of FIDE that was a world champion also Dr. Max Euwe?
The election process is “simple”: one federation, one vote.
No players, no trainers, no arbiters, … just federations.
If Havel wants Kok, I go for him. Havel is a man we all can trust. Please not more corrupt crooks.
What are their ratings?
Is it true that the present President imposed a rule whereby to even be eligible you have to put up a million dollars (It is discussed here)? If so, that seems antidemocratic, elitist, with flimsy justification. Is the real reason that the present person in power just wants to stay in power? This is about as smart as when the USCF supported “smart drugs” at their tournaments.
Is it really important who the FIDE President is?
Play chess, not war.
(Anonymous said…
Is it really important who the FIDE President is?)
I think so. I think it’s the most important position. With a good President, Chess can change for the better. The right President can put the right people with the right skills to help chess.
The wrong President would put in more politicians (friends and buddies) to run the show = disaster. Just look at what happen to the USCF and the last administration. The wrong President killed the US Women’s Olympiad for the next decade.
IM Petronic is absolutely right!!! Play Chess, Not War!
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
A decade of uneventful chess characterized by disunity, ineptness, and scandal should be more than enough that the international chess community could take.A new hope, a new initiative in a new leader is what we need. All parties aspiring for the presidency and opposed to the current administration should exert effort to unite with a common candidate and ensure victory in the May 2006 elections. Success to be certain should start with an act of unanimity by all well-meaning stakeholders of the future of chess now, well before the election or we may have to endure another decade of morass.