Open letter by GM Levon Aronian
Dear Mr. Ilyumzhinov and the FIDE Presidential Board,
In the wake of recent events surrounding the FIDE Grand Prix and the General Assembly’s decision to alter the current World Championship cycle, I feel obliged, as a participant and a leading chess player, to express my disappointment. I must request you to critically view and question the GA’s latest decisions and the processes to which they came. I must stress that I am not one for scandals and do not wish to cause unnecessary fights – however I believe it is my duty to act as the voice of the players.
Firstly, the decision to alter the World Championship cycle at this time is not in the spirit of fair competition. We can draw a parallel to the following example: the rules set before a race state that the marathon is 42km, and while the runners are still running, having already completed 20km, the rules are suddenly changed to make the marathon an 80km run. The runners thus lose motivation to run and consequently distrust the rule makers. This is comparable to the situation the participants of the FIDE Grand Prix will be in if the GA’s decisions are made final.
After severe criticism for many years over the World Championship cycle, FIDE finally created a promising new system, only now to self-impose new waves of criticism. When the initial World Championship cycle was set in place and the Grand Prix system was created for players to qualify legitimately for a chance to challenge the world champion, we had the belief that there was finally a fair and reliable system (which my federation also supported).
With the GA’s recent actions, it seems that there is a democratic deficit within FIDE. The GA did not consult the players currently taking part in the Grand Prix in their decision processes. Please keep in mind a very important point – these players, including myself, have a legally binding agreement with FIDE regarding the World Championship cycle and the Grand Prix. Therefore it is FIDE’s duty to consult the other party of the contract – the participants.
Does this mean that the chess players have lesser rights than others? The GA appears to act with no concern for the players. The decision to suddenly change the World Championship cycle has damaging effects on the career plans of leading chess players. It is also reasonable to ask: why should we go through several tournaments over several years and fight for a place in a tournament that another player gets by losing a match? The GA’s decisions remove the motivation for players like myself to take part in the World Championship cycle.
It should be noted that Mr. Mastrokoukos’ reason to change the cycle because of the unforeseen events of two legs of the Grand Prix withdrawing is not convincing and does not reflect reality – because a Grand Prix event in Yerevan has already been announced by FIDE as a replacement. It is clear that the withdrawal of Doha and Montreux are not endangering the system, as he would have us believe in his letter to Mr. Carlsen.
It seems that FIDE was on the right path towards a reliable World Championship cycle, which had the support of leading players and chess federations worldwide. However, with the GA’s recent actions, FIDE has left the right path and will lose its credibility in the eyes of chess players world wide – not to mention, ruin its efforts to be recognized as a sport by the IOC. I hope that the above arguments will be heard before finalizing the decisions of the GA.
Sincerely,
Levon Aronian
Frankfurt am Main
December 6, 2008
(Originaly published on ChessBase.com)
Well said.
…especially the point about Topalov who qualifies by loosing matches…first against Kramnik which was a qualification for the Kamsky match , and should he loose that too, well…then he qualifies again for the next candidates match…
I believe this is the last chance for Grand Prix – to revert back to what was originally announced.
If not, I think Aronian will withdraw too and others will follow.
And then there will be no cycle. Or at least not a credible one.
QUALIFY BY LOOSING – Do the Topalov!
Be successful with loosing. A new very easy way of mastering your life simply by loosing.
It’s a No-Brainer!
Merriam Webster Dictionary upcoming 2009 edition:
“to topalov somebody” = “win against somebody by loosing a match”
So Levon Aronian, one of my favorite players is joining in with Shirov and Carlsen and may be Ivanchuk too. Topalov also stated in a press conference that he is against changes in the middle of a cycle.
Interesting what Anand’s thinking on these late developments.
All above are discrediting FIDE. And it seems that Public Opinion is supporting their cause. I wonder how will FIDe respond to this pressure.
I have no idea why FIDE decided on changing things in the middle of the cycle and also why did they do it without consulting the players .
Earlier,last week , when all this mess began, out of anxiety for the faith of the chess world I supported FIDE and begged the players to oblige with the changes and with Fide’s authority. Now after a week the dam is flooded and I see no one who can stop the wave.
I change my mind than and feel the ball now is on FIDE’s ground. May be they will swallow their pride and change their decision. I am quite pessimistic though and do not believe it will happen. I am afraid FIDE is loosing face and credibility and the unity of the chess world is again in jeopardy.
Fide had changed the rules before. It was during the cycle removing the right of player above 2700 to challenge WCC, it touched Topalov who had sponsorship and rating.
So it is nth new.
Rgds
Pony
Topalov has no thought at all. He was world champion. He lost the title in suspicious circumstances to Kramnik. The he did not receive any chance to defend his title (he wasnt allowed to play in Mexico). Now, finally he gets his chance and the cry babies start moaning. Topalov and Anand are the top GMs in the last years. Both in terms of ranking and ability. If Aronian had a chance to win the title in Mexico! What pathetic moaning.
Money controls. Sponsors supply money.
Ask not what sponsors can do for chess, ask what chess can do for sponsors.
A 60% draw rate among elite grandmasters is ruinous to finding general commercial sponsors for chess.
It is so much easier to complain about Kirsan than it is to step up to changes that can bring chess commercial sponsorship (not just money from chess angels willing to lose money).
GeneM
CastleLong.com , for FRC-chess960
Vishy doesn’t care. He is World Champion and busy making money at home as a celebrity. I hear he is receiving a diamond ring.
Go Vishy! A good example for money grubbers everywhere!
The contract both Topalov and Kramnik signed before their match clearly specified that the loser would be excluded from the next WC cycle.( A very odd clause I thought and still think by the way.) So why is Topalov now being given entry by the back door into that very cycle ? What has he done to deserve it ?
“So why is Topalov now being given entry by the back door into that very cycle ? What has he done to deserve it ?”
Because in Bulgaria, they like it in the “backdoor”.
“The contract both Topalov and Kramnik signed before their match clearly specified that the loser would be excluded from the next WC cycle.( A very odd clause I thought and still think by the way.)”
First: This clause was included on proposal of the Topalov Team (=Danailov).
Second: The clause indeed makes sense at second glance, because if the looser would have had another chance for the title only half a year later, loosing the match would have had no real meaning…
the looser could have had another chance 3 years later if he participated in the following world cup…but Topalov didn’t participate (if he is the best player then why did he chicken out?) ….so why is he in the new cycle???
FIDE is one of the weakest world sports body. It has shown its ineptitude number of times in recent years.
When I look at some other individual sports like tennis, I wonder what happened to such a sport like chess which is popularly played over 150 countries. How many years does it need to establish a clean and fair world championship format? We urgently need to establish a fixed, fair system here.
Also, chess needs more sponsors. Sponsors want RESULTS. So, Categorically ban draw by mutual agreement before 40 moves. This will make chess more attractve.