Chess Grandmaster Gets Public Trial
The World Chess Federation (French abbreviation FIDE) announced yesterday that its first-ever public hearing will be held on July 28 in Athens to consider the scandalous accusations made by Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov and his manager Silvio Danailov during and after the championship match against Vladimir Kramnik for the title of classic world champion in Elista last year. If an independent ethics committee finds that Topalov and Danailov violated FIDE ethics and caused moral damage to championship winner Kramnik, they face punishment ranging up to three years’ disqualification under the FIDE ethics code.
According to FIDE ethics committee chairman Roberto Rivello, the hearing will be held in the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens. Former world champion Topalov and his manager are accused of violating four points of the FIDE ethics code by insulting Kramnik, the organizers of the championship and FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov during the championship in September and October of 2006, and after it.
In the past, the FIDE ethics committee, which was reformed at the congress in Turin last year, has played a formal, non-decisive role in the organization, so this hearing will set a precedent.
At issue are accusations made by Topalov and Danailov at the championship that Kramnik received advise while in the bathroom during the championship and comments made by Topalov to the Spanish publication ABC on December 18 of last year, repeating the same accusations and saying that he received anonymous threats that he would not leave Elista if he won the championship and that the Kremlin had ordered a Russian champion.
Source: Kommersant
Even though I love Topalov’s chess games I feel he and his manager should be punished for what they said and their actions during and after the World Championship.
Inherit the Wind
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind:
and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart
Justice shall be done! (hopefully)
What Topalov camp did was very bad for Chess!
There’s no real defense here. They clearly broke the rules. The only real question is what are we going to do about it, if anything? Considering how damaging Topalov’s behavior was to the image of the game and to potential sponsors, we pretty much have to do something, or else we’re giving every other GM a green light to do to the same thing.
Hi,
it is very interesting.
The Fide decision is not final, then can be appelation to the Sport Court in Lausanne etc. I do not think that they made accusations without any reason. When the external organization will make the trial it can be different matters discovered unpleasant for Fide, by occassion. The professional tracking looks differrent then most people think.
I do not think that someone will be punished.
Regards
Pony
But when they persisted in asking Him, (A)He straightened up, and said to them, “(B)He who is without sin among you, let him be the (C)first to throw a stone at her.” ehhhm “him!” of course …
How many times was Topalov accused of cheating and nothing happened?
>>Kramnik clearly cheated. Topalov found the cables in Kramnik’s restroom that was proof positive that Kramnik used computer assistance.>>
Congratulations, you just admitted that Topalov cheated, considering he’d used that same bathroom in half the games.
Way to go, scattergun.
>>Not to mention that Danailov calculated the mover percentage that matched Fritz.>>
According to New in Chess, Topalov’s number was even higher.
Way to go again, scattergun. You must really hate Topalov, don’t you?
>>ivan said…
How many times was Topalov accused of cheating and nothing happened?>>
Every ethics complaint Topalov filed was acted on. All zero of them. But what’s liable to bust Topalov here is not accusing Kramnik, it’s accusing Kirsan.
The FIDE has clear procedures for pursuing grievances during a match. As Danailov is Topalov’s manager, and his adviser/council, it is/was his clear responsibility to advise Topalov how to pursue grievance, and it is/was his responsibility to do as such. However, as Danailov chose to ignore the correct FIDE procedures to protest the match, and instead encouraged Topalov to proceed against FIDE ruling/protocol, the FIDE should take action against Danailov as follows: Fine him $50,000, suspend his FIDE rating and title for three years, and prohibit him from attending any FIDE events for three years.
Topalov will not be punished there… Unhapply. What he did deverves, sure, punishment!
To be fair: BOTH Topalov and Kramnik should have been followed and watched in the restroom after accusations like this.I blame the arbiters for the scandal!!