The following is an open letter by Roustam Kamsky:
Dear chess fans,
the latest FIDE announcement regarding re-awarding Bulgarian Chess Federation the opportunity to organize the Kamsky-Topalov match is another unprecedented decision by the FIDE President. In his latest response, Mr. Ilyumzhinov, one of the most successful businessman and politicians in Russia, is trying to suggest that he fell a victim of undue influence and was induced by Mr. Chernenko into making his personal guarantee of the prize fund in the amount of $750,000. Specifically I refer to the following language:
“At this point I must say that I have deeply regretted the trust which I had shown to Alexander Chernenko, concerning the reliability of his offer. The actions of Mr. Chernenko indicate an abuse of right to invoke my guarantee which was declared after his own request and in good faith to help him secure the necessary funds.”
It is clear that Mr. Ilyumzhinov personally guaranteed the prize funds of $750,000 for the match to be organized in Lviv, Ukraine and thus undertook specific moral and legal obligations towards both players.
My position towards options available to FIDE is simple. FIDE President, Mr. Ilyumzhinov, can follow the venue and great organization of Anand-Kramnik match in Bonn, Germany.
Unfortunately I do not have any faith in FIDE and Mr. Ilyumzhinov who in front of the whole world breached his word, which is not the first time. Also, I do not have much faith in Mr. Makropoulos, a personal friend of Mr. Danailov. Suddenly FIDE appointed without any negotiations Mr. William Kelleher of USA as the FIDE Supervisor of the Organizing Committee to be responsible for fairness concerning treatment of both players in respect of organizational issues, equal playing conditions and anti-cheating measures. However, for almost a year, Mr. Kelleher did not respond to any request for basic information made by Mr. Kamsky. Thus I doubt that he will be of any help to the American contender during the match. Accordingly, FIDE should make such important nominations after consultation with players. And should the match be organized correctly, like it was done in Bonn, Germany, the players will not require a FIDE Supervisor’s position as the proper organization should eliminate most conflict situations before they even arise.
The foremost important issue that FIDE omitted from its agenda for the technical meeting in Dresden on November 18th, 2008 is to have both players and their attorneys to discuss and negotiate the terms of the contract. During prior months FIDE remained silent to numerous requests for a contract for the Kamsky-Topalov match made by GM Kamsky’s attorney. Yet having no contract, FIDE mandated on November 6, 2008, that both players must confirm their participation by November 14, 2008. Before any confirmation can be given a player must know the time, the place and the prize fund for the match. FIDE is trying to use time pressure to force players into confirming to unknown terms that could later become critical. GM Kamsky is asking for the minimum – an honestly and fairly organized match in neutral location. If that does not occur both players instead of fighting against each other should unify to fight against FIDE in the court of law.
I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate Vishy Anand on his true victory. This is his third victory at the world championship. I think he could have achieved even more success if during his match against Kasparov he did not have as his trusted seconds grandmasters from the former Soviet Union.
I was very impressed by the organization of Anand’s match in Bonn, Germany, except that the match should have been played between Kamsky and Anand. It was unjust to allow Russian GM Kramnik to play three world championship matches, in 2006, 2007, 2008, without a proper selection, just so Russia can maintain the world championship title. World chess history does not know another chess player who had a privilege to compete for the title of a world champion three consecutive years. It is obvious that Mr. Ilyumzhinov has a soft spot for his countryman.
FIDE ruled to include GM Topalov into the current world championship cycle as an ‘intermittent’ contender against the winner of the 2007 World Cup, GM Kamsky, just to quite the woes of the Bulgarian Federation and Mr. Danailov, who threaten FIDE with the legal action after the ‘toilet war’. These are examples of an undue favoritism and not a true sportsmanship.
Most chess fans would recognize now that American GM Kamsky’s fight for neutral playing conditions is a necessity because neutrality was the foremost important rule for all world championship matches that FIDE must observe. Otherwise the match in Bulgaria will become a second rehearsal of his match against GM Karpov in Elista, Russia in 1996. See the Gata Kamsky International Chess & Sports Foundation, www.01chess.com, for more information about Kamsky-Karpov match.
It is clear that FIDE has a direct duty and responsibility to organize the world championship match Kamsky-Topalov. However FIDE’s latest response is to place its burden upon players, thus confronting the players even before their battle on a chess board. I anticipate that in these uncertain times Gata’s life could be in danger: no person – no problem.
Thank you
Roustam Kamsky
The full blame goes to the Kamsky team and their less than honorable manager Chernenko. There was never any money, just hot air by Kamsky team.
Is this the same Roustam Kamsky who threatened to beat up the innocent Nigel Short?
Awww, I miss those Rants Roustam used to deliver in the 80’s and early 90’s. Nice to see he’s still there to deliver em. Erlcome back Roustam! Now go punch somebody out! Attaboy!
I hear the mental hospital is looking for him. Sammy the Sloon is missing his cell mate.
Chernenko is a complete fraud. Kasmky’s team should have been banned from the sport long ago.
I agree with Kamsky father. They have moral right to question the neutrality of a match in Sofia with Topalov, a player with controversional trick, including the dirtiest – toilet gate. Topalov have no right to play with World Cup Winer Kamsky. In fact, he sould be banned due to his and his team act damaging the chess reputation.
Kamsky, go ahead! We are with you.
VietLion
Rustam is suck
Absolutely agreed with Rustam Kamsky.Obviously,Kirsan’s promises are only for naive fools.
“Kirsan’s promises are only for naive fools.”
You can same the same about Kamsky’s promises…
Although Kamsky’s team might have acted wrong in the preparations of this match….my opinion is that the whole responsibility of this situation resides exclusively on FIDE President, Mr. Ilyumzhinov. With his constant back and forth during this process he has shown he is a weak leader for our organization.
I disagree with most words from Roustam,
such as the nonsense that the
Anand-Kramnik match should be
replaced by Anand_Kamsky.
But one thing I strong agree:
The Kamsky-Topalov match should be
held in a neutral ground instead of
Bulgaria.
It is silly logic that the match should be held at Bulgaria simply because Bulgaria
offers the highest prize fund.
The winner should be determined over the chess board,
not by the country who offers
the most money.
yes the match should be organized in neutral country, then fo the the best bid and have no reservations for money. Both these guys are not world champ or anything. Forget about the fact that both are ridiculous in their public behavior, and have horrible managers. Accept whatever little you get of this match. Go on to play gentleman champ Vishy and get some money while playing him. This is last opportunity for both of them. Will be good to see both of them g out of the chess world as early as possible. Don’t throw tantrums, you are no good people, only good chess players and unprofessional at that.
“Although Kamsky’s team might have acted wrong in the preparations of this match….my opinion is that the whole responsibility of this situation resides exclusively on FIDE President, Mr. Ilyumzhinov. With his constant back and forth during this process he has shown he is a weak leader for our organization.”
I agree and this is his only fault on this matter. He should have given the match to Bulgarians when the first deadline (March 10th ?) expired without any other bids. If Kamsky would refuse to playx in Bulgaria then this is his problem and he should be replaced by Shirov.
Deadline is a dead-line. If you overstep the line, you are dead. Kamsky oversteped it many times. Time to kill him off and bring Shirov.
“The Kamsky-Topalov match should be
held in a neutral ground instead of
Bulgaria.
It is silly logic that the match should be held at Bulgaria simply because Bulgaria
offers the highest prize fund.”
You obviously don’t know about the matter, so i don’t know why you comment things you know little about.
Bulgarians are not offering the highest prize fund, they are the only one who are offering to organize it at all. NOBODY else wants it!!! Kamsky had more than 10 months to find the “neutral” venue, but didn’t make it.
So it is either in Bulgaria or there is no match at all.
Bulgarians should receive the match when the first deadline expired (in March).
What a hipocracy !
Was not Chernenko Kamsky’s managaer ? The mess is because of he and it moves on Kamsky team.
Are they trying to avoid match with Topalov next time ?!
Someone has taken over the wheel from
Chernenko.
This Kamsky fellow has been a problem even in the past. Topalov is another idiot who doesn’t know how to behave. These two idiots who surround themselves with morons should be kept away from chess indefintely. They are insult to the game.
Plus, it is quite possible that Topalov had won the 2005 championship by cheating. Ever since the cheating allegations that his manager was ‘involved’ during his games surfaced, this fellow’s game was never the same.
After seeing the high quality Vishy-Kramnik match and how smooth it went, it’s really a shame to let these characterless idiots to play a candidate’s finals.
If US is so keen to produce a champion, they should find a way to encourage the game by bringing the game to people through media and pour in money. While world championship match was in progress, there was not even a mention in any of the news channel or the local newspapers. Not even after the match was over. Such is the disinterest in chess in the US. Look at the sports section of the local newspapaer. They call the local baseball games as “world-series” when there is only one or two countries involved. USCF should leave the Kamsky team alone and not support thugs just to get a champion under their banner.
Well, I’d say, don’t use English, morons, when you can’t write more than half a sentence correctly! Topalov and Kamsky are by far no insult to chess, but such great “understanding” shmucks like you, certainly are! So, shut up, stupidos, and go and pound sand! Susan, please ban half of the idiots who are posting inept and hateful remarks! Kosz szepen es viszlat!
Kramnik after losing the title in Mexico gets a free match with the world champion
while Topalov after Elista shouldn’t even get an invitation to Mexico nor a qualification match with Kamsky.
Fide made the whole unification a mess.Topalov should have played in Mexico 2007. he would have won that like he did at Bilbao
Kamsky should be the challenger a bit weird he only won world cup. in which many of the top players (Anand, Kramnik, Leko, Morozevich, Topalov, Gelfand) didn’t participate.
“Kosz szepen es viszlat!”
Who is the idiot schmuck who needs to write in English?
*Sheesh!*
The same Kamsky played in India in 1990s against Anand in a candidates’match.Why?Because an Indian industrialist offered an unheard of sum as prize money!So whats the problem this time if Bulgaria is offering the highest prize money?
P.S.-And BTW,Kamsky defeated Anand after trailing by a couple of games till the very end!!
The same Kamsky played in India in 1990s against Anand in a candidates’match.Why?Because an Indian industrialist offered an unheard of sum as prize money!So whats the problem this time if Bulgaria is offering the highest prize money?
P.S.-And BTW,Kamsky defeated Anand after trailing by a couple of games till the very end!!
The same Kamsky played in India in 1990s against Anand in a candidates’match.Why?Because an Indian industrialist offered an unheard of sum as prize money!So whats the problem this time if Bulgaria is offering the highest prize money?
P.S.-And BTW,Kamsky defeated Anand after trailing by a couple of games till the very end!!
The same Kamsky played in India in 1990s against Anand in a candidates’match.Why?Because an Indian industrialist offered an unheard of sum as prize money!So whats the problem this time if Bulgaria is offering the highest prize money?
P.S.-And BTW,Kamsky defeated Anand after trailing by a couple of games till the very end!!