Childish Games
Isn’t it obvious that FIDE does not trust Kramnik and they really don’t care about any type of unification match with Kramnik? They know that even if Kramnik wins, there is no guarantee that he will defend his title under FIDE auspices in the future. If he loses, he may blame the entire negotiation process. The bottom line is MONEY and EGO. If Kramnik can find big money and pay FIDE 20% fees then most of the problems are solved. If not, don’t expect much.
FIDE is confident that they will continue to find sponsors for their cycles, whichever format that will be. Like it or not, FIDE is the only organization that can find money consistently. They don’t need Kramnik. They don’t care for Kramnik. They made that clear. They have the money of Ilyumzhinov and friends.
Kramnik decided to jump from FIDE in 2000 for a shot at Kasparov and cash when he did not even qualify for this match. He lost badly to Shirov (the one who unfairly lost the most). Ah yes, the magic word, CASH! Please don’t insult the intelligence of all chess players now by telling us that he cares so much about chess and he wants this match in the best interest of chess. Kramnik is for the best interest of Kramnik. There is nothing wrong with that. Just say it straight out. He would gain more respect that way.
He is ready to defend his title? Huh? FIDE has already shown that they really do not care so much about this title and they are not going to let Kramnik hijack the World Championship title. So what is he defending? Kramnik desperately wants FIDE and Topalov to recognize his title. FIDE for sure will not fall for this trap again. Topalov is in no hurry to rescue Kramnik. So we have a stalemate just like the past few years.
If Kramnik is confident that he can organize a championship cycle on his own then he would have done it long ago. If he cannot and wants to crawl back to FIDE for this match then don’t insult the other two parties. Isn’t that obvious? Does he really expect Topalov and FIDE to go down on their knees and accept his offer? What school of negotiation does this come from? This is not in the best interest of chess and it will hurt him more. This is just as bad as the excuse of the Brissago affect. He wants to feel that he is in the same class as Kasparov. I am sorry but only Kasparov is in the class of Kasparov, good or bad.
Everything could have been avoided if Kramnik had the courage to offer Kasparov a rematch a few years ago, especially when Kasparov basically took him under his wing. But he wanted to avoid this match at all costs. This is Kramnik’s battle. Have you seen even one top GM jumping in to vigorously defend Kramnik? No. That is because no one cares. I have seen many top GMs offering the opposite view. He made his mess. Now he needs to fix his own mess. History will be will be the judge and I can assure you that many people have considered him a coward for ducking Kasparov.
I could not care less one way or another. Chess professionals have bigger problems to deal with than having to worry about Kramnik. As I said many times in the past, I like his game. I admire his style of play. Kramnik is a wonderful player and I have nothing against him on a personal level. I just think that he has made a series of blunders which are bad for chess after defeating Kasparov.
This is my take. Any professional chess player has a number of options if they don’t like FIDE:
1. Bolt like Kasparov did and find his own sponsors and money
2. Work to change the leadership of FIDE
3. Do nothing and take the money
4. Leave the game
5. Complain, complain, complain but do nothing
I am sure that this game is not over. In the mean time, expect more insults from all parties. I truly hope this will not be the case for the sake of chess but I will not hold my breath. Welcome to the world of chess 2005.
I agree with you. All parties have behave badly.
The truly sad part of this whole ordeal is that there are still those in the world who think Bobby Fischer was crazy when he said they cheat at chess, even though both Spassky and Korchnoi have admitted to this several times publicly. At least Korchnoi had the gall to say that his orders to cheat “came from above”.
all that is very very good, but I nevertheless think that one become World Champion by a true match. So we dont have today a real world champion. We need a match (Topalov-Anand, Topalov-Kramnik, I dont know …).
Best regards
Vinc.
Tommy Says:
I believe it is best to have the old champion pass the batton to the new champion when he loses in a match.
nothing else really works in chess.
Topalov does need kramnik. the same as kramnik ducked kasparov now it is important that topalov does not duck kramnik.
I feel the same about kramnik ducking kasparov. that was a disgrace. obviously kasparov was the legitimate challenger back for kramnik.
Kasparov took his loss with dignity and kramnik should have given a return match. However, kramnik does hold the batton.
However wrong kramnik was we need to forgive him. we need to play a match against the holder of the batton and take the batton away. Just because kramnik was wrong to not offer a match to kasparov does not mean he does not hold the title. he does hold the batton.
tommy
Kasparov did NOT lose with dignity. He handed the title over. If you look at the games its obvious. An 11 move draw>!?!
I dont understand why some people say that Kramnik is a “coward”.
In fact the match proposition is issued by Kramnick side and rejected by Topalov side.
So it’s Kramnick who want to play and not Topalov, although Kramnik is a “weaker” player !
If Kramnik would have granted Kasparov a rematch like a true champion, we wouldn’t have the mess today. He ran from Kasparov like a dog without tail. Now he can keep his title forever.
What about Alekhine?
Kramnik seems to me to be behaving much the same as Alekhine did after he beat Capa. Avoids the real test. Playing…Bogo..Euwe…etc. Sorry but Capa was the man to play. I still think its possible for Kasparov to come back and perhaps everyone should just lieave this Kramnik guy play with his imaginary castles and perhaps drum up the match we all really want. Topalov vs Kasparov.
Its obvious Kramnik would never Play Kasparov again so why not just skip this step and get on with life. I’m sure Mr Kasparov could be persuaded as his reason for bowing out of chess were simple…Kramnik and Fide would not let him play. What a sad thing for chess. I think he deserves it when you take into account the fact that he NEVER ducked ANY opponent EVER! We deserve a real champ…and I bet we would not have much trouble coming up with the money…..otherwise…its like that blogger said…perhaps Mecking vs Kramnik for ALL the marbles in panama in 06? Or was that perhaps Mr Korchnoi vs Kramnik? I dont remember…but it was pretty funny.
Regards
Mike Magnan
Is there any word on who it was that accused topalov of cheating?? I think we should be more vigourus about finding this out.
We musn’t allow this coward to hide.
A rematch between Kramnik and Kasparov will have the same result. Kasparov will be defeated again and again. It will be a boring match.