This letter was sent a few days ago by Bulgarian’s Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev to President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
Republic of Bulgaria
Dear Mr. Ilyumzhinov,
I keep following relentlessly the chess match between two famous chess players, Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik. I would like to express my gratitude for you for securing excellent condition for this meeting.
We all realize the importance of the match; this is a competition of great minds. However, tension linked with complaints of both sides and exercises in putting pressure on the players do not benefit anybody, go against the rules of fair play and raise doubts about sincerity of the match participants. It is no secret that representatives of the match organizing nation often have certain advantages. I firmly stand the idea that political games must not influence situation on the board.
I sincerely hope to see all games of the match played. They deserve global attention, but not due to the reasons that could raise doubts about reputation of the ancient game and professionalism of the players.
I greatly appreciate your contribution to carrying out a proper match that obeys the rules of fair play. I am confident that efforts of the FIDE President will be duly appreciated by all nations engaged in this intellectual contest. First of all, I believe that your efforts will allow the strongest win.
Good luck!
Sergey Stanishev
Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
Source: Official website
All these people have one thing in commen…they want chess to be the real winner..But do they realy mean it…We can only hope they do
“I sincerely hope to see all games of the match played. They deserve global attention, but not due to the reasons that could raise doubts about reputation of the ancient game and professionalism of the players”
So, even the president of Bulgaria wants to see game 5 played over the board
Does Topalov have anyone in his own corner.
Has anyone asked his family if they are behind him still? 😉
**I firmly stand the idea that political games must not influence situation on the board.**
Political games…Like the president of a player’s country writing vague letters to the FIDE president right as it seems all the insanity is almost over?
To be fair, I expected he would demand the rest of the match continue in Bulgaria or elsewhere. Since Topalov is in trouble, there’s no telling what he might do. But really, there was very little content to the letter.
Leave it to a politician to use all those words and say not much of anything!! 🙂
I think this letter is quite old, it was not written now, but more like somewhere after game 5 or 6, me thinks.
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No, that was Hungary.
Topalov is very lonely. Even if Topalov wins this championship with a stolen point, I wonder if he is going to be invited to any top tournement (Wijk an Zee, Linares, Dortmunt etc). He is in a very difficult situtation. All the world, all the top GMs (including Anand) saw his real face. Maybe Susan and Topalov can play together since she is a candid supporter of him.
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She seems to be rather neutral. Why provoke? ~kt
Given that Susan wrote a letter of support to Kramnik, your suggestion that she is backing Topalov/Danailov’s use of the “Toilet Variation” is misplaced.
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Maybe Susan and Topalov can play together since she is a candid supporter of him.
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There doesn’t seem to be any evidence of that. She supported Kramnik with a public on the issue of the controversy. But like an impartial arbiter, she prefers to decide on each issue individually without becoming committed to supporting either camp.
I think it is irrelevant whose side Ms. Polgar is on, although I think she’s been doing quite a good job in being impartial. Here is what is relevant – Topalov still has a much bigger fan base than Kramnik, for the following reasons:
1. he plays a more attractive, attacking chess than Kramnik;
2. he has never been afraid to defend his world title – unlike Kramnik, who very carefully chose a weak opponent like Leko;
3. he has never avoided playing the best in his field – unlike Kramnik, who very carefully avoided a rematch with Kasparov.
4. he was the first to fall victim of unfair accusations of him having a microprocessor implanted in his brain.
5. he comes from a small country, and most people would prefer to see the end of the 70-years old near total Soviet/Russian hegemony on the world chess title;
6. he has played the more interesting chess in Elista – the only game in which Kramnik was truly active was number 10.