There will be no game today. The key issue is still the score. But everyone seems to be happy with the bathroom issue.
I am hoping that game 5 will start tomorrow with the score 3-1. I understand that it is against the rules to replay the game but I believe that this is in the best interest of chess.
I will break down point by point in detail later today of what took place, what should or could have been done and what are needed to be done for the rest of the match.
Joan Thornton, Melbourne, Australia wrote to ChessBase
This is the saddest day for chess since Fischer walked out in the 1972 WCC match. Both players should have their heads banged together. Ban them both from all pro events for a year. Instead, have a match between Susan Polgar and Magnus Carlsen.
No, I don’t think we should ban either player. There are enough turmoil in chess. No need create more. However, playing a match against Magnus is an interesting idea 🙂
In this match Rules mean very little so why not break one or a few more…I wonder if Topy will get paid for turning up to play for game 5
Yes, they should resume at game 5.
As for the match againts Magnus, my bet is on him to win hands down (no disrespect).
Regard.
Topalov’s team absolutely MUST give back the forfeited point. Regardless of their position on FIDE’s supposed “laws”, if the point is not given back, the tournament will never be considered legitimate by either side regardless of who wins. The absolutely MUST realize this.
Wrong sister. Magnus is now a 2700+ GM, he should play the younger sibling, for a more interesting and balanced match-up. 🙂
Rowan’s Moral:
“Let us hope a similar outcome does not transpire in Elista. Compromise is NOT the solution in manifestly unfair situations. Fido’s responsibility was to tell Vosilin that his demand was unreasonable and allow the cake to be cut in half. Fide’s responsibility now is to tell the Topalov camp that their demands have been unreasonable, and restore the match score to 3-1.”
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3386#rowson
I wonder whether the frequency of the visits to the bathroom will continue as it had been. I wonder also what will happen if Kramnik continues to dissapear from the cameras dozens of times per game in the bathroom.
As for some Australian country bumpkin’s comment, I do not understand why Kramnik has to be banned from Profesional chess at all. What an ignorant comment coming from Australia! What she says doesn’t make any coherent sense. I am stunned by such over-dramatic, airheaded tone of voice from a nation of no chess activity.
office@fide.com
tournaments@fide.com
If you want to tell Kirsan to throw DAnilov out of the country and put Topalov’s money in escrow until he agrees to play chess, these are a couple of FIDE emails that might work. Maybe president@fide.com is a live email as well?
It seems that 90% of the emails into chessbase are pro Kramnik.
Toppy has no choice but to back down or forever be stigmatized by this. It may already be too late to save his reputation.
Hi Susan,
I am wondering if the concept of the Chess World Championship hasn’t run its’ course. Why not just abolish the title? Few would dispute that Tiger Woods or Roger Federer aren’t the best in their respective sports. Why should Chess be any different? Let tournament results speak for themselves and keep the World Championship an informal concept. That way we aren’t empowering any individual or organization with absolute ownership.
Would Wimbledon be cancelled if Federer didn’t show up or walked off the court? Would The Masters be delayed while details are being worked out with Tiger’s entourage? The answer to both of those questions would be NO. Most other sports are not hostage to an individual’s self interest.
I sincerely appreciate your high minded ideals throughtout this week’s unpleasantness. It is good to see that a World Champion can act with grace and dignity. I see both Kramnik and Topalov camps acting small and petty to the detriment of chess. I believe that we would fix many problems by stripping individuals and FIDE of control of the World Championship Title.
The history of the World Championship is replete with unfairness, psychological warfare and stunts having nothing to do with the game. I love chess and its’ rich history. I recognize that the World Championship has provided much of the backdrop and drama of that history. It is with sadness that I recommend the title be abolished so that we can move into a chess world that is not held hostage to bathroom or backroom politics.
Respectfully,
Tom D
I would like to hear from those who think Kramnik was right to refuse to play because he sincerely and honestly believed the appeals panel had made the wrong ruling.
My question is under what circumstances does a player have the right to refuse to play? Remember, your answer should cover all players, not just Kramnik but also Topalov. What wording would you put into the compromise to make sure the right to refuse to play is not abused?
If the match continues, and Topalov submits a protest that is invalid but Topalov sincerely believes is valid, and the organizers reject the protest, then under what circumstances will Topalov be allowed to refuse to play? Whenever he sincerely believes he is right? Whenever his manager sincerely believes they are right?
Until this question is answered, the risk that players will again refuse to play is dangerously high. Maybe we should take a poll for how many more times a player will refuse to play a game in this match — two, three, four?
Susan
You often mention that chess should have a commissioner and bring up the point that other sports have one. These other sports also have rules that if you behave in a certain fashion you can be kicked out of the game, suspended and/or be assessed a fine. When this happens nobody goes around saying that baseball, football or whatever other sport has been given a black eye. We need to stop wearing kid gloves. We need to put a little discipline in professional chess and require that players behave in a professional matter; otherwise, things like the recent current events will continue to happen. We should not drop/change our standards just to see a championship match. My solution: cancel the match, remove the prize money and assess a fine to both players. One possible reason that professional chess has a hard time getting sponsorship is that the players have too much control!
Charles
During the negociation as stupid as possible: Topalov is sleeping as a pupy, is having a rest , is recovering from his surprise of the firsts games, and is training himself harder to cope with the kramnik.
What a good mess the rats of fide / danailov made!
If kramnik is out of form for the rest of the match , the reason would be easy to point out.
What a pitty that topalov gives some credit to that.
“Magnus is now a 2700+ GM”
No. GM Carlsen is 2698 and currently the 2nd strongest junior.
If he get a WCC match, I pray he will display better sportmansship than Topalov.
Regards
Tor, Norway
“Either way, im sure he will beat susan easily”
Agdestein nearly beat Carlsen in the NC tiebreak, why couldn’t S. Polgar do the same?
Regards
Tor