This morning, IM Almira Skripchenko asked me to sign a letter for Kramnik, which was co-written by Almira and GM Joel Lautier.
I agree that Vladimir was unfairly treated. I also believe that Mr. Danailov went too far with his tone and language. I understand that it is his job to protect and defend his client Topalov. But it could have been done in a more dignified manner. Too bad that such ugliness took place but what’s done is done and we cannot turn back time. We can only look forward to the future.
I am very happy to see Vladimir playing today. By playing, he showed his championship move. I wish him the best.
I would also like to praise Veselin for his willingness to continue this match under very difficult circumstances. I do not want to see anymore blame games. No more open letters please unless they are for praises!
The chess match is back. Both players are under tremendous pressure on and off the board. Unless you are actually playing for the World Championship, it is hard to understand the immense pressure that the players are facing. I have been there. I can tell you from first hand experience that it is extremely tough! Every move they make will be part of history, good, bad or in between.
Let’s give them a break. I hope that both Vladimir and Veselin can put this mess behind them and continue to put on a great match for the chess fans around the world.
They are playing for the highest honor in chess! I am not rooting for one of the other. May the best player win ON THE BOARD!
Below is the modified letter that I signed:
Dear Vladimir,
Through no fault of your own, you have suffered a great deal due to the mistake of the Appeal’s Committee.
In spite of an evidently unfair treatment, you have accepted to continue the match, for the sake of reunifying the chess world. This is a very impressive decision. It testifies to your remarkable sense of honour and is worthy of your true status of Classical World Champion.
Regardless of the final result of this match, you have earned the deepest respect of your fellow grandmasters and colleagues, as well as countless chess fans around the world. Thank you for being a model sportsman in a time and place where so many circumstances turned against you. I wish you the best and may the best man win on the board!
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
O please, let us put an end to showcasing kramnik as God. He is the culprit in starting the whole mess by unnecessarily going to unmonitored places for long amounts of time. A protest by the opponent is an entirely valid thing. I am annoyed with the GMs who make an hero out of a guilty person.
Thank you Susan for posting this letter. I read on Chessbase that many other GM’s have posted a letter that support Kramnik and strongly condemns Topolov. I think all GM’s need to let Topalov know just how horrible his actions are. This must not happen again, and I hope that the unjust forfit will be lifted of game 5 will be lifted soon.
I agree with srinivas’ comment and am unhappy that you have now clearly taken a side by signing the letter.
Can he still go to the bathroom 50 times per game without monitoring? Or do we still have to suspect that he is receiving improper help during these new games?
sounds like srinivas was suggesting that someone can be “guilty unless proved otherwise”
I think it’s ridiculous about the blogger’s who are still complaining about Kramnik’s bathroom visits. During the negotiations, they offered to tear down and rebuild the bathrooms and Danailov thought this was quite unnecessary and that additional inspections before gametime was satisfactory to him. If he was satisfied, why aren’t they?
I believe that Topalov was within his rights to make a complaint. So I don’t feel as harshly toward Topalov as many other people are. I think he and Danailov were FOOLHARDY in accepting the forfeited point. Now Topalov has become the villain to many chessfans, a thing I believe that he does not deserve. I admire that Topalov shook Kramnik’s hand despite the ridiculous statement that Danailov made.
I applaud Kramnik for his courage in continuing the match!
no shame…
no honesty…
You sign that letter, having earlier accused Mr. Kramnik of kicking it off with his pre-planned toilet visits, that you suggested were deliberate mindgames.
How about you write a letter of apology to Kramnik?
That would be dignified and graceful.
“In spite of an evidently unfair treatment, which has not only resulted in your being forfeited of one game,”
I do not see this as evident at all. Team Topalov did behave unsportingly, but I see nothing wrong with FIDES handling of the situation. If Kramnik is treated evidently unfair by FIDE, why don’t he just take his case to the courtroom?
(no shame…
no honesty…
You sign that letter, having earlier accused Mr. Kramnik of kicking it off with his pre-planned toilet visits, that you suggested were deliberate mindgames.
How about you write a letter of apology to Kramnik?
That would be dignified and graceful.)
It is too bad that some posters continue to behave this way. You can rant and rave or insult me all you want. I will not take side the way you wish.
I support Kramnik for continuing the match. It was a champion’s move. I support Topalov for continuing the match.
Neither were saints and neither is as bad as people make them out to be. All sides made mistakes, some more than others.
It is fine if you do not like my comment. But please behave in a dignified manner.
The committee made a wrong ruling. But the match is now back on. Move on please.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
Well done!
GM Kramnik need support now from his colleagues to get through this difficult periode.
I was equally glad to see the young GM Carlsen giving V. Kramnik full support.
Let me quote the poem, “Dare not to sleep”, a powerful call during a dark times, well known to all Norwegians:
How dare you endure, sitting smug in your home
Saying: Sorry, so sad, poor they are, and alone
You cannot allow it! You dare not, at all.
Accepting the outrage that on all else may fall.
I cry with the final gasps of my breath
You dare not be seated, nor stand and forget.
-A. Øverland (1935)
Regards
Tor
anonymous said …
” sounds like srinivas was suggesting that someone can be “guilty unless proved otherwise” “
As I said in another thread here, this is not a criminal courtroom, and the standard of “innocent until proven guilty” does not apply.
In fact the responsibility should be on the players to prove they are above-board, and conditions should be instituted to facilitate that. This is the same as other sports, business, etc. That’s why Topalov agreed to go beyond the agreed rules and put up the glass screen in front of the board, to answer Kramnik’s concerns about Topalov cheating. Well now it’s Kramnik’s turn to answer Topalov’s well founded (50 visits / game!) concern.
Susan, in spite of all your diplomatic statements, you still cannot hide your support for Topalove.
Your comment: “I would also like to praise Veselin for his willingness to continue this match under very difficult circumstances”, does not make sense. What big sacrifice or compromise did Topa make? He got all he wanted (unless you call “the 2 restroom issue” a sacrifice/compromise from Topa). Topa did not even apologize for his disgraceful remarks to Kramnik (like “…Kramnik’s makes his most important decisions in toilet…”).
Topa had the chance to agree to replay Game 5, but he used a technicality to earn a free point. Somebody who calls himself a fighter just stuck to the technical ground to get that “free point”. I understand that legally the forfeit by Kramnik gives Topa the point but then let him have the point and not make any attempt to put him on a high moral ground.
-Amit
Great letter Susan!
This should also silence all those that criticised you for not taking a stand. Seems you have simply taken the time to make up your mind.
“Kramnik makes his most important decisions in the toilet.”
This (where he was making the decisions) seems to be provably true even without speculating about how he was making the decisions. He would come out of the bathroom and almost immediately make his move on the board.
Did this same pattern occur in today’s game?
Susan, you are a bright individualist. How could you join this mob and sign this one-sided letter? Topalov had a valid point in his protest. Ragardles what happened later it is not his fault. I understand the mob is louder and many poople join it because they cannot stand to be minority, but a bright individualist like yourself should be able to stay put.
I was pretty much neutral before, but now I hope Kramnik kicks Topalov to the curb. Kramnik wins the appeal, but still has to forfeit a point?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
TO clarify my first comment in this comment list: I said kramnik is guilty of going to unmonitored places which is not a fair practice in any sport. See
http://srinivas-insights.blogspot.com/
So, topalov was right in his protest. Everything else that happened after is not in his control. Kramnik should have played game 5, just like he played today after protesting. Instead he chose to not play and put his stupid private rest room issue in the forefront, and put the most important world championship for the community behind. ANd to treat such a person like God by many GMs is pathetic and biased and encourages egoism. Now I understand why the chess sport is not the way other sport is. It will continue to be doomed without proper investment due to such behavior. Because the GM’s are eccentric, egoistic individuals who cannot rationalize an issue effectively and express judgement that is fair without names, country, or racial involvement.
Susan, congratulation for signing this letter. It’s a great move, especially from yours.
finally my last two pence…
it is VERY hard to MODERATE a forum or a blog, and it is even more hard to do so, if the forum or the blog bear’s your own name!
“to moderate” meaens, to take an arbiters point of view. whatever “opinion, insult, idiocy or mud” is written, it needs your attention and you MUST stay at a neutral point of view! to be honest, susan’s ability to keep a quite neutral attitude commanded my admiration! and i’m sure – the last two days, not least whilst reading her own blogger “fans” (anonymus or bright shining sunshine ones), have been two of the hardest days in her pro chess life (correct me if i’m wrong, susan)
in my eyes susan polgar did a titanic work, by giving ALL the chess fans around the world a gigantic forum to post their opinions, their insults, their preferences for Kramnik or Topalov.
where else – to the address of some anonymous morons – do you have such a publicity? such lot recipients?
thanks to susan polgar to hold this last piece of decency in a “lavatory affair”! thanks a lot for your effort to light both sides of this unsavory WC affair up.
i have not been with all your arguments – for or against Danailov, i have not been with all your arguments – for or against Kramnik not to play game 5
– but i’ve read between the lines (i surmised to do so)
… thx again to inform us amateur chess folks with – i suppose – compelled neutrality (by the moderator function). MY RESPECT TO YOU – as a role model of behaviour in crisis – HAS RISEN these days.
Finally things changed in ELISTA – Kramnik agreed to the forfeit of game five (the otherwise loss of 500,000 $ may have played a little role) and the kindergarten WC match (according to Sigmund Freud – still in its anal phase) continued with one more boring game of moving 32 wooden pieces “ingeniously” around on a wooden board consisting in alternating black and white squares.
and the president of this registered club, once abducted by aliens, who showed him how the world is getting round (the president or the registered club – this question is still unsolved) may take a deep breath …
THX Susan, for yor efforts, but i’m afraid, it was all in vain.
GENTS una sumus ….
sincerly, your’s Vohaul
Amazing. In the sequence of comments above, Susan is first accused of backing Kramnik and then of being a Topalov partisan! To paraphrase Mr. Lincoln: “Everyone is mad at her, so she must be doing something right.” 🙂
And, while I’m here, thanks for the running commentary on the games themselves, Susan. They’ve been very interesting.
Sign me too on your letter Susan. I agree 100% Bravissimo!!!!
Why don’t you people look at Kramnik’s website to see the result of Game 5 according to him.
Then let’s discuss again who is the hero and who is not.
Someone from above apparently told them to shut the hell up and play chess. But this doesn’t mean that the deep problems have been solved.
They just buried everything hastily under the door mat. When the game will approach its end though, some of this “dust” will re-emerge. Remember that.
Beast and Fairest
Best and Fairest…sorry a spelling mistake Not Beast
One thing im confused about. Who could Kramnik be getting help from? Hes clearly the best in the world… so whos giving him help? Kasparov from 15 years in the past?
@ Sujay:
Nah. Kramnik is a defensive specialist. When he’s alone in the loo he’s been using necromancy to summon the spirits of Steinitz* and Petrosian!**
*(Unfortunately, Steinitz keeps holding out for better terms.)
**(Hey, it’s no crazier than some of the comments I’ve read here the last few days!) 🙂