Want open bidding process: Carlsen’s agent 
Amit Karmarkar, TNN | Apr 23, 2013, 03.32 AM IST
 

PUNE: Fide have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with All India Chess Federation and Tamil Nadu state association for holding the Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen World Chess Championship match. However, Carlsen’s camp is not entirely happy with the development.

Reacting to speculation that Carlsen is not game to play in Chennai and could pull out if the Fide sticks to its guns, the challenger’s agent Espen Agdestein said: “We are quite surprised that Fide has signed an MoU without a bidding process as described in the (previous) Fide regulations for the World Championship match. Though the MoU is on the website, I don’t know the relationship between the Fide and Chennai organisers.

“Ideally, there should be an open bidding process and a neutral venue. We should have more options available. They should have a dialogue with both players before arriving at a final decision which is fair and suitable to all parties. The best possible venue could well be Chennai but the process has to be followed.”

The MOU, uploaded on the Fide website, says that the match could be held in Chennai from November 6 to 26 this year.

“There is huge interest worldwide for this match,” said Espen. “And there are other cities and organisers interested in hosting it. I have asked them to contact Fide. I guess the picture will be clearer after the Fide meeting in Baku next month.”

Chennai had lost out on the last World Championship match between Anand and Gelfand last year after throwing their hat in the ring. Moscow pipped them by offering a prize fund of $2.55m.

The Fide president Kirsan Ilymzhinov had promised TN CM then that the state will get the first preference, without the bidding procedure, for the next Match.

Chennai are offering the same prize fund ($2.55m) as Moscow last year. According to the AICF honorary secretary Bharat Singh, the organisers, in association with the TN government, have given the world body an undertaking of Rs 29 crore and as far as they are concerned “the match will be held in Chennai.”

When asked what will happen if Carlsen is not agreeable to play in Chennai, Bharat Singh said: “Then, the Fide will have to take a call.”

Until both players sign the players’ agreement, the match is not safe and secured for Chennai.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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