I cannot take the side of Kramnik, Topalov or FIDE. I believe all sides committed errors in the process. I know that Topalov’s fans will defend Topalov, Kramnik’s fans will defend Kramnik and friends of FIDE will defend FIDE. I am not here to change anyone’s mind.
Just like in chess, there is no takeback. The past cannot be undone. The question now is what can be done to satisfy ALL parties so game 6 will continue timely and the match will go on.
Attacking Kramnik, Topalov or FIDE will not solve the problem. It will only add more hatred, mistrust, anger and nonsense that we do not need. I truly hope that everyone will take a DEEP breath, relax and start to think in a calm, cool and collective fashion.
What is the bottom line? Chess fans want this match to be settled on the board. It is in the best interest for FIDE, Topalov and Kramnik to finish this match on the board. The world is watching us. Let’s not continue to act foolishly! Let’s put the best interest of chess first!
I think a good first step in getting to play game 6 is playing game 5 first.
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/09/29/restoroom4kramnik.shtml
This is how this match will go down in history (not the pic) if they quit now. Crap
http://www.mosnews.com/
news/2006/09/29/restoroom4kramnik
“I cannot take the side of Kramnik, Topalov or FIDE. I believe all sides committed errors in the process.”
Even diplomacy can be exaggerated.
“I know that Topalov’s fans will defend Topalov, Kramnik’s fans will defend Kramnik and friends of FIDE will defend FIDE.”
FIDE has no friends and even if one is a fan of either player, not very much objectivity is necessary to spot the fouling player: it’s Topalov.
“I am not here to change anyone’s mind.”
Most peolple here seem to have a rather good nose for foul play.
More graphical jokes will appear, for sure.
http://www.ajedreznd.com/2006/mundial.html
🙁
Susan,
I like the tone of your posting. I agree with you. In truth I am indiffirent to both players though I like Topalov’s playing style more.
By the way, I am a fan of the three Polgar sisters. I first saw your sister Judit play in and won the Under 1800 section in the early 90’s at a New York Open.
This episode will become one of the darkest lores of our beloved game if it is not resumed.
The money is dulling people’s sense of justice and honesty is no longer viewed an esteemed virtue.
Please, let the games continue.
“The money is dulling people’s sense of justice and honesty is no longer viewed an esteemed virtue.”
According to the rules, at least Kramnik won’t get a penny if he quits the match now.
Terrible … this is not like Fischer’s demands about match conditions. Here the conditions of the match were agreed beforehand, and FIDE changed them at the request of Danailov.
Typical FIDE. Always new negotiations and deals to replace the old agreements. If an appeals process can decide anything in the name of “fairness” or “satisfying all parties” then it is FIDE ruling by fiat. I just hope Kramnik has a legal contract specifying the restroom accomodations he was promised.
I disagree completely that Kramnik is to blame at all. He has been rudely insulted. He probably doesn’t need the money. There’s no moral obligation for him to play on against psychological tactics. Frankly, chess as an honorable profession is better off if players start quitting matches and tournaments every time this sort of thing starts up. That’s the only way it will ever end.
even if Kramnik had been insulted by the whole thing, his best response would have been to sit in a game and prove that he is the worthy champ and better player by winning the 12-game match. Whether cheating or not, his suspicious behaviour allowed room for doubt on the fairness of the game, which is shameful for a player of his class. His further response to that whole mess is to walk out on a game while his opponent is waiting, and it totally gave room for his critics to bash him. Given Topalov’s refusal to shake hands and is lead 3-1, he would have been the clear moral (and possibly chess) winner if he had ignored the stupidity and politics and mind games and played chess.
Whining, protesting, threats to quit, colored yoghurt, brain chips and claorvoyants – like it or not, it has been part of chess history in championship matches of that caliber. But you simply CANT WALK OUT on a game. Shame on Kramnik
topalov only made the accusations because he’s losing this match- what a shame – kramnik clearly isn’t cheating because if he was, he would be playing MUCH better- he was totally lost in game 3 if it wasn’t for topalov
kramnik should be willing to concede a little as well, and just accept the new conditions- 50 times is ridiculous
if this match is cancelled- chess is over
Susan Polgar for FIDE President! As I have stated before to quote one of my teachers, “Being good AT chess does not make one good FOR chess.” We are blessed to have both in Susan Polgar IMHO. Cooler head must prevail is true, but first they have to get their collective heads out of their you know where! This is ridiculous. The Royal Game has become the subject of toilet bowl humor. There is no draw or victory here…everybody loses, especially the Royal Game itself! Namaste…
There is no “cheat” in Kramnik’s play!
All the results are Topalov’s own fault!
He could have draw the first game at any moment, he continued just to blunder a pawn and the game!
Topalov missed a straight win with his powerfull attack in the second game!
Where is the cheating process that is made against Kramnik? He just win a game and two after being totally outplayed by Topalov.
Would Topalov made the good points before, never would Danailov intricated like this!
For now, a totaly stupid and ridiculous complaint became bigger and bigger …
Sad for us…
Topalov showed that he wanted to play against the will of danailov.
Fide should have unlock the wc door and the match would have continue at a glance, wouldn’t it?
Before danailov conspiracy, i was higly confident that Topalov could equalize the match! He showed that all the last year events! Winning or near winning most of them!
Then, the lake of confidence of danailov for Topalov is to blame!
Now, i’m disapointed.
That Kramnik spent eighty two minutes in front of a bathroom door without entering and without having to go to another restroom proves that his “need” to go 50 times per game to the bathroom is false. Furthermore, he is suspected of using a small chess set to make moves physically while in the bathroom (the only place sans cameras) which gives the palyer a minimum of 300 Elo points of advantage. This is serious since neither player is searched for non-electronic devices. It also sheds a dark light on the Kasparov vs Kramnik match, since Kasparov complained (just like Topalov) that Kramnik made too many trips to the bathroom!
friends of FIDE will defend FIDE
FIDE has friends? I thought they were just paid employees of Kirsan. 🙂
Susan:
We all think you do an excellent job and are a positive influence on chess, but Mark is right; You are not offering an objective opinion, and it is clear you are siding with Topalov. Nothing wrong with taking sides, (Seirawan clearly did) just don’t pretend to be objective!
If I remember, Kramnik has already long ago been presented by Kasparov as his probable successor.
I hope Garry’s judgement was not biaised by the too frequent “toilet visits” of Vladimir Kramnik.
Any sporstman, when suspected of cheating, has the right to feel insulted, but Chess should be a fair game, and is most often chosen as it gives both opponents the equal starting conditions from where their skill will show over the board.
It’s hard for me to believe that either Topalov or Kramnik would lower himself to win in an unfair way.
Ther is so much to lose taking such a risk !
If discovered, you cannot face the world players anymore, and if not, you have to face yourself and know yourself as a cheater for the rest of your life, which is not the ideal of the champs.
True, in some sports, there are cheaters, and some cheat in chess too, but I hope the highest level is free of such things.
For the rest, some games have shown that Kramnik could have been defeated, and I don’t think his numerous toilet visit were responsible for Topalov’s lack of accuracy at the crucial moment.
Unless we step back to 1972’s Spassky- Fischer match, when the russian team suspected the american team to have placed some chemicals in order to lower the concentration of Boris Spassky, or to 1978’s Baguio-city match, with all the suspicions that was in the air from both sides!
The trouble is that after such an event, the players might be disturbed and not be in good conditions anymore to play, and who can tell this has not been a part of the strategy to upset the opponent !
I hope both players will overpass the bad feelings this sad story must have caused, and that they will agree to get back to their part and show us good and merciless fights OVER THE BOARD !