This is the latest open letter from Kramnik’s manager Carsten Hensel
Open Letter
To
FIDE President
H.E. Kirsan Illyumzhinov
To
Head of the 2006 Executive Committee
Mr. Valery Bovaev
Dear Mr President, Gentlemen,
Having received innumerable published and unpublished inquiries I would like to clarify, in the name of Vladimir Kramnik and his team, our position in the decision taken by FIDE regarding the fifth game of the current World Championship match.
1. As you know Vladimir Kramnik is playing the current match under protest. Nothing has changed in our attitude, which is documented by Kramnik’s actions around the fifth game and our statements, protests and letters:
29.09.2006: http://www.kramnik.com/eng/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=104
02.10.2006: http://www.kramnik.com/eng/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=106
04.10.2006: http://www.kramnik.com/eng/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=107
2. Consistent with this standpoint Vladimir Kramnik will be playing this match, including a possible tiebreak, up to the last move under protest.
3. Should the decision of FIDE regarding the fifth game have any influence on the awarding of the World Championship title, with Mr Topalov receiving the title after being granted a free point for the unplayed game, Mr Kramnik declares unequivocally: “I will not recognize Mr Topalov as World Champion under these conditions, and I will take legal action against FIDE at the end of the World Championship.”
4. The damage done to Mr Kramnik in public opinion (e.g. the slander campaign) after the illegal release of private video images by the then FIDE Appeals Committee or the WCC 2006 Executive Committee to the Topalov team, and the subsequent release of these video images and private information of Mr Kramnik in his restroom to the mass media, as well as the interruption of the match, which broke Mr Kramnik’s concentration and playing rhythm, will all be part of the legal action which will be initiated.
5. As a sign of good will Mr Kramnik once again requests FIDE to arrange for game five to be played out on the board immediately after game 12. This in our opinion is the only way to alleviate the personal, sporting, judicial and ethical injuries that have been incurred by Mr Kramnik.
Elista, October 10, 2006
On behalf of Vladimir Kramnik
Yours sincerelyCarsten Hensel
(Manager to Vladimir Kramnik, Classical World Chess Champion) 
Hello All,
This is a nightmare situation. I fear that if the World Chess Championship is, ultimately (and it might not be), “resolved” in the judicial arena, it would set an extremely, extremely bad precedent.
However, after the conclusion to this match, I think chess fans need to concentrate, as Anand stated, upon the next World Title Match.
Let’s just hope this doesn’t go to court! Let it be settled over the board.
Sincerely,
Tim Harris
KRAMNIK’S MOVE TO SUE IS THE RIGHT DECISION SINCE THE FIDE GOVERNING “AUTHORITIES” MADE THE ARBITRARY ERROR JUDGEMENT IN AWARDING A FREE POINT TO TOPALOV.
MUCH AS I ADMIRE TOPALOV, HE LOST THE RESPECT OF THE CHESS WORLD WHEN HE TOOK THE FREE POINT.
HE STILL CAN RECOUP HIS HONOR AND PRESTIGE BY REPLAYING THE 5TH GAME.
BUT THEN HE WILL BE A POINT DOWN AND WILL OBVIOUSLY HOLD ON TO THIS POISONED POINT INSTEAD OF FACING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF HIS TITLE.
HELL, I WOULD.
Kramnik is right about this – the first protest letter by the Topalov team and FIDE response to that were all illegal, violating the match contract clauses. Kramnik is worth our admiration for deciding to continue with this match under these conditions. Good luck to him.
Hopefully Topalov will win the 11th game and the 12th game, so Kramnik won’t have grounds for being a crybaby.
Great Letter!
Finally mentions that the slander alone will demand compensation
It is actually a concession on his part that he would accept the results of this match if game 5 is replayed
Awarding point to Topalov was weirdest decision, but, possibly only way to save the match. I think it would have been much worse, possibly even for Kramnik, had Topalov quit after losing 1-3..
On the other hand, this toilet-computer company may be a revenge for computer company against Topalov this summer. Not sure Kramnik has anything to do with it, but Danilov seems to think so.
Jesus! What a circus. I hope that there will be some sponsor keen to give money for the next WC.
Jesus! What a circus. I hope that there will be some sponsor keen to give money for the next WC.
_daniel
Barnum and Bailey as sponsors … if they still exist?
This match is a mockery, i’m sorry to post.
“I hope that there will be some sponsor keen to give money for the next WC.” -Daniel
(WC?)
Do you mean water-closet or world-champion?
Bad move.
If Kramnik wasn’t prepared to accept the result of the match, he should have walked out when the forfeit was allowed to stand. At that point, he would have had the moral high ground (as well as having the lead in the match).
Now, his position is that he’s prepared to accept the results of the match as legitimate, but only if he wins.
Life doesn’t work like that.
well said scottm
i always have to smile now when someone uses the appreviation W.C. for World champion, as WC means toilet in german =)
TRT
Kramnik was right not to be bullied by Danailov and FIDE into giving away a 2-0 match lead to storm out and leave the match undecided.
That would have simply been a victory for cheating and intimidation, encouraged more devious practices by Danailov and his ilk in future, and denied us all these current matches and a possible unified world champion.
Kramnik was courageous to stay, but he would also be mad to accept that, despite winning one more game, the match was ‘drawn’. Danailov has shown his colours already, but the only hope (unless Kramnik can win the match by 2 games) now is for Topalov to finally show a sense of honour and decency and offer to replay game five.
Judging from his vituperative comments in the Bulgarian press, this isn’t likely.
What a joke this match is.
“Now, his position is that he’s prepared to accept the results of the match as legitimate, but only if he wins.”
Well, not ENTIRELY. His position is he wont’ accept the results if the illegal point makes him lose. Which is ot say, if Topalov legitimately wins more games over the board (the next 2) then Kramnik wouldn’t have a big problem, ditto if Kramnik wins enough for that game not to count (which seems probable right now)
Ive thought a bit about this off and on ever since the original spat and Ive tried to balance the lawyer side with the truth/justice side and still focus on chess.
What is best for chess?
I think what would be best for chess is no more (or less) of the silly off-board posturing such as went on with the way the accusations were tabled.
were they done improperly? certainly
how best to fix that?
well it would have been great if the top dog laid down a body slam and told the Topalev camp to ‘ shut it’ and follow propoer procedure and even better if they were told that making complaints without actual proof of wrongdoing was going to be viewed just as poorly as someone yelling ‘ fire’ without evidence.
But that didnt happen.
So maybe a lawsuit is (sadly) the best way?
A lawsuit may or may not settle the issue. In fact I suspect whatever the outcome of such a suit it will just serve as a smokescreen for both sides to posture from.
So why is it a good idea?
Because if there is a lawsuit it will serve as a clear meassage to ‘ management’ that you risk lawsuits unless you take care of business properly. In industry theres nothing like punitive damages to get boards noticing and cleaning up their act to prevent exposure to further suits.
I think this is one time where a lawsuit’s benefits may far outweigh the consequences. I also think the suit has good chances but long term I think it’s irrrelevant. Long-term the idea is to discourage the circus. If we want the circus we can go see professional circus performers like Cirque du Soleil and at least get professionals at the craft.
It is worth mentioning, that FIFA (football/soccer federation) is threatening horrible penalties in case anybody tries to sue the federation. About month ago Portugal was threatened suspention from any international competition on both club and national team level because Gil Vicente wanted to sue the federation to fight its decision about relegation. There were a lot of
stories like that.
(the story mentioned above finished with
resignation)
So, if FIDE were applying FIFA principles, they should threaten disqualification of the Russian international team, Russian clubs and Russian players from any FIDE-approved competition. Does not seem very likely, but ….
Susan,
Any word on when the ‘Elista Chess Set’ will be available to the public, or if it is, where we can get one?
If the 12th game is drawn, I guess Kramnik will refuse to play tie breaks before game 5 is played on board.
FIDE and lawsuits are the norm, there is certainly nothing in the way of “precident” being set here.
Even Karpov sued FIDE(and rightly won).