WC tidbits

Some interesting points:

Kramnik: “I was happy when the President decided to arrange it here. Elista is a good place for a chess match because it is rather quiet and you need concentration. I prefer it to playing in cities like London or New York, where there are many things that can distract you.”

Schedule:
September 21, 2006, 7.00 p.m. – Opening Ceremony
September 22, 2006 – Rest Day?? (It must be the grueling and energy draining Opening Ceremony)
September 23, 2006, 3.00 p.m. – Game 1

October 1, 2006, Reversal of Colours??? – Rest Day

FIDE: Having arrived in the city, Vesselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik posed for photos with the Head of the Republic, FIDE President K. Ilyumzhinov, against a background of the deeply respected in the Republic monument of the Buddha Shakmyamuni. After that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov suggested the chess players pass through the so-called Golden Gates that lead straight to the centre of Elista where a celebration on the occasion of the Kalmyk capital birthday was being held and where chess takes honored place. At one of the tables Vesselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik played blitz. It resembled the style of their confrontation in 1989. The Dutch game was played as at that time and the Russian player proposed a draw.

Times Online: Mr. Topalov, a Bulgarian ranked first in the game, holds the title awarded by FIDE, the World Chess Federation. Kramnik, who is Russian and ranked fourth, is Classical Chess world champion, a title established after Garry Kasparov, then the top player, led a breakaway from Fide in 1993.

Mr. Topalov said that he considered himself the only true champion as holder of FIDE’s title. “But the world champion should be ready to show that he is the best at all times and this is why I accepted the match. There was a lot of interest and there was money, so I thought ‘why not?’ “Things should be decided on a chess board and if you try to hide it doesn’t work. The point is not only the title but to show everyone that you are the best.”

The players were forced to step around workers who were still frantically completing the renovations, however, when the President showed them the stage where they will play. Geurt Gijssen, the Dutch arbiter who will oversee the contest, shook his head, but said that he was confident that everything would be finished in time for the opening ceremony on Thursday.

Each player has been assigned a 20-room house and a new Mercedes to chauffeur him around the capital. Horses have been stabled for their personal use in case either man feels the urge to go riding between games.