You had your chance!
That is basically how Topalov feels about giving Kramnik a match for the World Championship title. Kasparov also voiced his opinion. Both Topalov and Kasparov agree that Kramnik has no right to play a World Championship match.
Topalov went on to say that he doesn’t understand why a title shot should be given to someone ranked only #7 in the world and rated more than 60 points below him (in the next rating list). In addition, he felt that Kramnik had the opportunity to prove himself in San Luis and declined. Therefore, he should not be entitled to this right. He did not rule out about a match for big money but not for the title.
I also agree. I would love to see a match between Topalov and Kramnik because of their contrasting styles. However, it should not be a World Championship match. Giving Kramnik a straight title match would be a big insult to some other chess professionals. As I said before, no single player should have the right to hold the World Championship crown hostage. We have a new World Champion who proved himself on the board and on the rating chart. Let the new beginning start with Topalov.
What do you think? Do you agree with Topalov? Is it credible to consider a player a champion without any World Championship cycle plan and 1 title defense in 5 years?
Forget Kramnik. He is the past.
Kramnik never qualified to Kasparov. He had 1 good match in his life. It’s time for him to go.
Hit the road, Jack!
Karanji
Please provide a link to a news report on Topalov’s stance to not play a title unification match with Kramnik. What I have read in an in the Bulgarian press (English language) is that Vesko will not decline a match that Ilyumzhinov might organize to unify the title.
– Chris
Tommy Says:
I dont like to put it this way. but I am against any consideration of Kramnik as World Champion. I consider Kramnik a loser and definitely not the best player.
the world champion is the best chess player in the world and Kramnik has proven many times that he is definitely NOT the best and therefore not a Champion.
I dont even think that the match with Kasparov was a real championship match. Kramnik did nothing to qualify and show he deserved the shot at the title.
his defence with Leko was a laugh. it again did not look to get the person qualified to get a shot at the title. at the time Anand if anyone should have been the match not Leko. the entire process was lame and terrible. it was announced too late for people to participate. really stupid.
Kramnik has done nothing for chess.
I agree with others here.
FORGET KRAMNIK. He is from the PAST.
Hit the road Jack. I like that expression. well said.
Topalov is the Best Chess Player in the world and he has proven it. And he has won the title. he deserves the title. let us now move on.
I agree however, that if Kramnik can raise big money for a match. then Topalov may as well play for a good payday. But it would be important that Kramnik can NOT then take away the FIDE World Champion title from Topalov.
I say we should all do as Susan Polgar says. she understands all the issure so very well.
go for it susan. You are right on. I love your views on this issue.
Tommy
USCF life member
I agree absolutely Susan, it would be completely unreasonable for Kramnik to claim a right to a single match world championship challenge. The only basis on which he would do so is the fact that he was the last player to obtain the classical title in such a manner. However, trying to stick with this claim after the performances of recent years is not credible. The reality is that the format of the world championship has changed; one of the strongest tournaments in chess history was held, and Topalov proved himself a worthy winner. Kramnik has only himself to blame for declining the invitation. He can continue to insist that he technically still holds the classical title, but it is very clear whom chess fans across the world consider the strongest active player and true world champion.
On a more general note, congratulations on your fantastic blog, I thoroughly enjoyed the coverage of the championship tournament, and look forward to reading your chess insights in the future! =)
I agree with Susan, Topalov, Kasparov, and a whole lot of other people…Kramnik’s “title” was lost by forfeit in San Luis.
-Todd Reynolds
I also agree. Kramnik had his chance to prove himself in San Luis. He wanted the easy way out. He wanted a free pass by playing against the winner of San Luis. No dice. His title is now gone. Topalov is now the true champion.
Vinay
So you’re saying its only fair for FIDE to call someone who isnt in the top 10 a champ, like Mr. #35 Kasim?
B.S.
Why is Kramnik not allowed to defend his title ? He did against Leko. The choice of Leko was not his. FIDE cannot avoid issues. We are all saying Topa is the champion. It sound ok because Topa is good enough to be one – both rating wise and the manner in which he won! What is some low ranked person had won ? Would you all be supporting that person and say Kramnik is nothing ?
I totally agree with World Champion, IGM Veselin Topalov (the Bulgarian wizard). Vladimir Kramnik has no right to a world championship match with Topalov.
This is complete bullshit! Kramnik convincingly defeated Kasparov to become World Champion and defended his title 4 years later against Leko, after FIDE couldnt manage to arrange their part of the deal of unification. FIDE world champion means nothing, its just a title, like a title belt in boxing. I mean, honestly, who on earth considered Kasimjanov world champion?? A unification match between Kramnik and Topalov is the only way to go, giving Topalov the chance to become the 15th(?) true world champion.
Kramnik world champion?
Thats like living in antiquity.
Yes he beat Kasparov , yes convincingly BUT that was 5 years ago almost 6 come the new year. How silly is it to say that just because he defeated Kasparov 5 years ago and drew against Leko hes still champion?
Every player has an achilles heel in the form of another player, I believe Kramnik was Kasparovs.
Times change and so should rules, in the past there were fewer GMs who could contest and due to vast distances challengers could could find patrons to sponsor their bids. Now we have a centralized body, ie FIDE, which mandated a tournament, Kramnik should have obliged by virtue of his position as the First Citizen of chess to play.
Rather than strategically defend and draw against a single player this pool system of having the top players play it out against each other is an infinitely better method of calibrating true class.
Sorry ferdyrojo you have no case, if the best you can come up with is that Kramnik defeated Kasparov 5 years ago then I can do one better, Topalov defeated Kasparov 6 months ago.
I completely disagree, vseaga.
You see, we have this tradition in chess. There’s a world champion. The other best chess players in the world come together and find out who’s best of them, and this guy challenges the world champion. If the old/current world champion isn’t the best chess player in the world anymore, then, guess what, we get a new world champion, as the challenger beats him!
You guys act as though Kramnik is somehow trying to ‘keep on to his title’ by not playing. That’s simply untrue! It is FIDE who has been utterly and completely unable to arrange a competition to select a challenger (until now when they at least have succeeded). Kramnik held up his end of the unification deal by playing Leko, and defending his title (barely!).
Now a challenger has been produced in Topalov. Is he a better chessplayer than Kramnik at the moment? Yes, I believe so. Does that mean he somehow shouldn’t play Kramnik? No, that doesn’t make any sense. He must play Kramnik, beat him and become the new World Champion. Then the chess arena can finally be at peace again.
I can see it now.
The NFL plays an entire season and playoffs and Superbowl to find the best team this year, then holds another game to award the Lombardi trophy to the winner of a game between this year’s Superbowl champion and last year’s.
Exactly Marty! Thank you.
I do not think Kramnik deserves a shot at the title. However, the onyl way to unify the titles is by having the match…
None of this would have happened had Kramnik given Kasparov a rematch. What’s done is done, and now Kramnik will die a slow agonizing death as his credibility goes down the drain everyday. His first defense came 4 years after he won the title, against the winner of Dortmund 2002, and incidently some of the players from that candidates tournament never got paid, which resulted in the NAO Chess Club pulling their partnership from the Einstein Group, which led EGs bankruptcy. Kramnik and Leko were originally promised 2 million for their match, but had to settle for a cigar company’s $750,000 prize fund after the downfall of Einstein Group.
Kramnik has a tough task now. He must quickly create a new cycle and find the funds for it. With his rating continuously dropping, will he be able to find someone to sponsor him? Only time will tell.
What most have repeated regarding Kramnik is true. He has held a “split” world championship title for far too long, but I wonder if some of the blame for this falls with others. Certainly, FIDE did not have much interest in legitimizing the classical title when it was already having so much difficulty in finding sponsorship to back a title match of it’s own. Should it be up to the artist to organize and hustle sponsorship to interest someone in knocking him off of his throne? Granted, Vladimir COULD have agreed to play in San Luis, thereby “cutting his own throat”, so to speak, in acquiring a well-deserved title purse in a reunification match. Play the match! Otherwise, the current schism will remain! How important will that be? Probably not much in the long run, but it certainly will leave yet another reminder in chess history of the petty squabbling and ineptitude of the current FIDE administration that exists. Probably Topalov has more to lose here and little more to gain, other than the respect and gratitude of the millions of chess fans who long to rally behind the one world champion, and put this messy era to rest!
Best wishes,
Frank K