The team members of the delegations of both players have been announced:
Team of Veselin Topalov, Bulgaria
1. Veselin Topalov, Bulgaria, participant
2. Silvio Danailov, Bulgaria, manager
3. Ivan Cheparinov, Bulgaria, coach
4. Aleksander Onishchuk, USA, coach
5. Francisco Vallejo Pons, Spain, coach
6. Vladimir Haralampiev Rapondzhiev, Bulgaria, team member
7. Raicho Ivanov Gospodinov, Bulgaria, team member
8. Georgiev Dragomir, Bulgaria, team member
9. Ginchev Zhivko, Bulgaria, team member
10. Dancho Djongov, Bulgaria, team member
Team of Vladimir Kramnik, Russia
1. Vladimir Kramnik, Russia, participant
2. Carsten Hensel, Germany, manager
3. Miguel Illescas, Spain, coach
4. Alexander Motylev, Russia, coach
5. Sergei Rublevsky, Russia, coach
6. Valeri Krylov, Russia, physiotherapist
7. Victor Bobylev, Russia, cook
I think picking Onischuk is a wonderful choice for Topalov. Onischuk is rock solid and he is a very good positional player, very similar to Kramnik.
What do you think of the choices for coaches by both sides? 
Susan (and anyone who else might know),
I am a little confused here.
Are they just announcing the team to the world now? Isn’t it a little late in the game to pick people.
What is the specific role of the coach in an event such as this?
Thanks.
The players knew about it long ago. Alex Onischuk told me about his role in the Topalov’s camp a while back. But it was top secret info. That is why I did not reveal it until it is made public now.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
thanks, susan
Like vvchess asked, whats their specific role ?
– Vinay
Analyze lines, work on specific strategies, emotional and mental support, etc. Having the right seconds will play a major role in winning or losing the match.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
can the cook play as well?
That’s great for Alex! It often seems that acting as a second for a player in a world championship match improves the game of the second.
His lectures on the cruise were excellent. Now I finally know how to win Q vs R also.
I have always considered Alex a 2700 elo rated player.
Having Alex in his team, this and his other talents as an assistant , makes big plus in Topalov’s favour in the match.
Anyway ,my gut feel is it is going to be an interesting and tight match up to the last game.
Cheers
Kramnik brought a cook and something I cannot even pronounce! Match experience or primma donna?
Are so many coaches such a good idea ? Or does the number of coaches they have chosen reflect their playing/analysis styles ?
Kramnik’s choice of a physiotherapist makes sense since he’s had health problems recently, but a cook ?! Doesn’t he like Russian [I mean, Kalmykian] food ? 😛
Bringing your own cook?
Well…most of us think better when we eat well.