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Main
Date: 03 Dec 2008 04:50:57
From:
Subject: Whirled Championship
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Some of the letter presented below from Magnus Carlson's father is
strangely reminiscent of what we have asked for from USCF in order
that it gain and maintain our confidence in it as a national
organization. Susan Polgar is a friend of Henrik, and first reported
the Carlsen blog entry.
As usual, I hope we can achieve at home, what we would like to see
abroad. Other than Susan Polgar, I haven't read anything from USCF
sources recently on the W Ch series, except the same sort of
proclamation from the board on Kamsky's chances, which as I understand
it, was not even known to all board members.
There have been several other ascerbic comments from strong players in
the past few days - especially from Shirov - but those can be reported
later, and distinct from this issue.
//Phil Innes
========
After Dresden I've been more concerned with the changes related to
Grand Prix...
What really stole the attention of Magnus and many others during the
latter part of the Olympiad was of course the news from FIDE about
changes to the Grand Prix cycle.
First came the short notice cancellation of Doha (about two weeks
after we had been told everything was all right and could go ahead and
buy plane tickets (which we did).
Going to the new venue Elista in wintertime and over Christmas was not
something Magnus wanted to do, and later we have got oral confirmation
that this issue has been resolved. (I don't know how and do hope it
was done without any harm to other GP participants.)
Later the really big issue came up.
Without proper prior notice, and on the last day of the FIDE congress,
a proposal was approved by the (people still left in the) General
Assembly to degrade the GP midway by introducing a new qualifying
layer, an 8-player Candidate tournament replacing the match between GP
and World Cup winners as qualification for the 2011 World Championship
match.
Thursday November 27th I wrote an e-mail letter of protest to the FIDE
office on Magnus' behalf and Monday December 1st they reverted
promising a response to the letter by today (which we have not
received yet).
What we want from FIDE are transparent processes, fairness and
predictability. Significantly changing the GP regulations to the
detriment of the GP players in the middle of the cycle is clearly
unacceptable, and the reactions we consider include legal action and
withdrawal from the cycle.
It is understandable that the FIDE board is unhappy about the fact
that several top players decided against taking part in the Grand
Prix. But, this should not have come as a big surprise and was anyhow
known before the start of the GP cycle. Subsequently giving privileges
to the players involved in the current World Championship cycle is
obviously not the right way to solve their problem.
In the (unfortunately) lopsided GP regulations, there's a clause (1.4)
stating that "The body responsible for any changes to these
Regulations is the FIDE Presidential Board."
I'm not a lawyer, but to me this passively oriented wording describing
the role of the FPB would typically apply to the resolution of
uncertainties or conflicts pertaining to the GP regulations and not as
a basis for completely changing the purpose of the cycle midway...
I'll provide an update regarding the GP in a few days.
Henrik Carlsen
Lommedalen December 2 nd 2008 02.des.2008 @ 21:32
Source: Magnus Blog
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Date: 05 Dec 2008 06:39:53
From:
Subject: Re: Whirled Championship
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On Dec 5, 8:40=A0am, "[email protected]" <[email protected] > wrote:
> FROM MIG'S DAILY DIRT
>
> Magnus Carlson Snubs FIDE
>
> Congratulations, FIDE. Carlsen tied for first in his only GP event, in
> Baku. What a shame, but you can hardly blame him. And this isn't a
> veteran of feuds with longstanding issues. Carlsen and his father are
> of irreproachable integrity and this should be taken as a serious
> smackdown to FIDE's business as usual: "We can do whatever -- cancel
> events, add new ones, change conditions, all behind closed doors --
> and the players will still show up when we tell them to."
>
> If more of the elite players followed Carlsen's example Ilyumzhinov
> would get the bum's rush he so deserves. Or would he? He might just
> hang on like a chessic Mugabe, buying and bullying his way through
> elections forever as things crumble around him. It's times like these
> when all the attacks on Kasparov and Short for breaking away from FIDE
> in 1993 come into perspective. Is a schism worse than the corruption
> and ineptitude we have now? Unified idiocy is still idiocy. Speaking
> of, as far as I can tell, world champion Anand has been silent on all
> this so far. What will he do if/when they start jerking him around,
> too? He's already going to be playing more defenses in a shorter time
> than any champion in history thanks to FIDE's blatant favoritism.
>
> Ilyumzhinov keeps rolling out big plans and we watch them fall to
> pieces and/or end up in Elista. If FIDE wants players to act like
> professionals with 'zero forfeits' and contracts, it has to meet the
> same standards itself, at the very least. But they couldn't care less
> as long as it doesn't hurt their bottom line. As Kasparov predicted
> several years ago, it looks like only the new generation has the guts
> to stand up to this garbage. Carlsen doesn't see why he needs FIDE and
> he's right. He's letting them know he's not going to put up with them
> messing with his career, and thank god.
Hear, hear!
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FROM MIG'S DAILY DIRT
Magnus Carlson Snubs FIDE
Congratulations, FIDE. Carlsen tied for first in his only GP event, in
Baku. What a shame, but you can hardly blame him. And this isn't a
veteran of feuds with longstanding issues. Carlsen and his father are
of irreproachable integrity and this should be taken as a serious
smackdown to FIDE's business as usual: "We can do whatever -- cancel
events, add new ones, change conditions, all behind closed doors --
and the players will still show up when we tell them to."
If more of the elite players followed Carlsen's example Ilyumzhinov
would get the bum's rush he so deserves. Or would he? He might just
hang on like a chessic Mugabe, buying and bullying his way through
elections forever as things crumble around him. It's times like these
when all the attacks on Kasparov and Short for breaking away from FIDE
in 1993 come into perspective. Is a schism worse than the corruption
and ineptitude we have now? Unified idiocy is still idiocy. Speaking
of, as far as I can tell, world champion Anand has been silent on all
this so far. What will he do if/when they start jerking him around,
too? He's already going to be playing more defenses in a shorter time
than any champion in history thanks to FIDE's blatant favoritism.
Ilyumzhinov keeps rolling out big plans and we watch them fall to
pieces and/or end up in Elista. If FIDE wants players to act like
professionals with 'zero forfeits' and contracts, it has to meet the
same standards itself, at the very least. But they couldn't care less
as long as it doesn't hurt their bottom line. As Kasparov predicted
several years ago, it looks like only the new generation has the guts
to stand up to this garbage. Carlsen doesn't see why he needs FIDE and
he's right. He's letting them know he's not going to put up with them
messing with his career, and thank god.
[email protected] wrote:
> FROM KENYA!
>
> Larry Evan's "This crazy world of chess" an absolute gem
>
> #107677 - Jun.2, 2008 08:22
>
> mehul
> Member
>
> Registered: Jan.17, 2003
> Posts: 163
> Loc: Nairobi
>
> I came across the book at one of the supermarket stored back here in
> Kenya going for a bargain Kshs 250/= (that would be about 3 US
> dollars). It is simply ab out chess politics and other controversial
> chess stories. I thought I had known it all and only bought the book
> to give to a student of mine.
>
> On getting home and flipping through...my god! This turned out to be
> an essential buy. If you haven't read it I suggest you go grab a copy
> right now. Hours of sheer entertainement...almost no digrams or game
> analysis...just the chess drama in words.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6zju77
>
>
>
> [email protected] wrote:
> > THIS CRAZY WORLD OF CHESS by GM Larry Evans
> >
> > 41. How America Was Betrayed (page 104)
> >
> > "FIDE?s style of governance is increasingly founded on diktat with
> > dissenting views brushed aside," stated the U.S. Chess Federation.
> >
> > One grandmaster expressed the revulsion felt by many observers: "It?s
> > now abundantly clear that men and women of good conscience can no
> > longer support FIDE in the face of its hapless organizational bungling
> > and
> > callous destruction of professional careers."
> >
> > For decades FIDE has ignored the views of most pros and arrogantly
> > stumbled into a series of scandals. Were FIDE to vanish tomorrow, who
> > would miss it?
> >
> >
> > [email protected] wrote:
> > > More comment from Chessdom //Phil Innes
> > >
> > > The real reasons behind the World Championship Cycle changes
> > > FIDE Grand Prix is almost collapsing, Montreux has left the series as
> > > well
> > > by Chessdom.com
> > >
> > > After FIDE has decided to change the current World Championship system
> > > and introduce an eight-player candidate tournament, the main question
> > > that arose was "why making changes in the middle of the cycle?" Here
> > > are some of the public reactions .
> > >
> > > As we've been unofficially told by a very trusted source, the
> > > explanation is fairly simple. The phrase "under changing
> > > circumstances" at the beginning of the related paragraph in the FIDE
> > > Press Release was a gentle way to say that FIDE Grand Prix model is
> > > falling apart. The abrupt cancellation of Doha was only the first
> > > domino in the chain, Montreux has left the series as well. The
> > > organizers from Switzerland did not provide the prize fund guarantee
> > > on time, furthermore, they have openly told FIDE to start seeking the
> > > new host for the April 2009 tournament.
> > >
> > > With the crippled Grand Prix, where possibly only four tournaments of
> > > the planned six would actually take place, and Karlovy Vary are yet to
> > > deposit the guarantee by the 15th of December, FIDE decided to step in
> > > and regain some of the "sovereignty" over the World Championship
> > > cycle. The Grand Prix is under the exclusive control of Global Chess,
> > > financed by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and David Kaplan.
> > >
> > > "In order to eliminate future uncertainties" referred to the
> > > possibility that GP won't be completed, thus the clause of two players
> > > from the ongoing series qualifying for the candidate tournament should
> > > provide some sense of fairness.
> > >
> > > It is very possible that UEP , the company behind the Anand-Kramnik
> > > match, will organize both candidate tournament and 2011 World
> > > Championship match. The bidding process will be started in a day or
> > > two, following the official announcement on the FIDE website.
> > >
> > > Source: chessdom.com
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FROM KENYA!
Larry Evan's "This crazy world of chess" an absolute gem
#107677 - Jun.2, 2008 08:22
mehul
Member
Registered: Jan.17, 2003
Posts: 163
Loc: Nairobi
I came across the book at one of the supermarket stored back here in
Kenya going for a bargain Kshs 250/= (that would be about 3 US
dollars). It is simply ab out chess politics and other controversial
chess stories. I thought I had known it all and only bought the book
to give to a student of mine.
On getting home and flipping through...my god! This turned out to be
an essential buy. If you haven't read it I suggest you go grab a copy
right now. Hours of sheer entertainement...almost no digrams or game
analysis...just the chess drama in words.
http://tinyurl.com/6zju77
[email protected] wrote:
> THIS CRAZY WORLD OF CHESS by GM Larry Evans
>
> 41. How America Was Betrayed (page 104)
>
> "FIDE?s style of governance is increasingly founded on diktat with
> dissenting views brushed aside," stated the U.S. Chess Federation.
>
> One grandmaster expressed the revulsion felt by many observers: "It?s
> now abundantly clear that men and women of good conscience can no
> longer support FIDE in the face of its hapless organizational bungling
> and
> callous destruction of professional careers."
>
> For decades FIDE has ignored the views of most pros and arrogantly
> stumbled into a series of scandals. Were FIDE to vanish tomorrow, who
> would miss it?
>
>
> [email protected] wrote:
> > More comment from Chessdom //Phil Innes
> >
> > The real reasons behind the World Championship Cycle changes
> > FIDE Grand Prix is almost collapsing, Montreux has left the series as
> > well
> > by Chessdom.com
> >
> > After FIDE has decided to change the current World Championship system
> > and introduce an eight-player candidate tournament, the main question
> > that arose was "why making changes in the middle of the cycle?" Here
> > are some of the public reactions .
> >
> > As we've been unofficially told by a very trusted source, the
> > explanation is fairly simple. The phrase "under changing
> > circumstances" at the beginning of the related paragraph in the FIDE
> > Press Release was a gentle way to say that FIDE Grand Prix model is
> > falling apart. The abrupt cancellation of Doha was only the first
> > domino in the chain, Montreux has left the series as well. The
> > organizers from Switzerland did not provide the prize fund guarantee
> > on time, furthermore, they have openly told FIDE to start seeking the
> > new host for the April 2009 tournament.
> >
> > With the crippled Grand Prix, where possibly only four tournaments of
> > the planned six would actually take place, and Karlovy Vary are yet to
> > deposit the guarantee by the 15th of December, FIDE decided to step in
> > and regain some of the "sovereignty" over the World Championship
> > cycle. The Grand Prix is under the exclusive control of Global Chess,
> > financed by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and David Kaplan.
> >
> > "In order to eliminate future uncertainties" referred to the
> > possibility that GP won't be completed, thus the clause of two players
> > from the ongoing series qualifying for the candidate tournament should
> > provide some sense of fairness.
> >
> > It is very possible that UEP , the company behind the Anand-Kramnik
> > match, will organize both candidate tournament and 2011 World
> > Championship match. The bidding process will be started in a day or
> > two, following the official announcement on the FIDE website.
> >
> > Source: chessdom.com
|
| |
THIS CRAZY WORLD OF CHESS by GM Larry Evans
41. How America Was Betrayed (page 104)
"FIDE=92s style of governance is increasingly founded on diktat with
dissenting views brushed aside," stated the U.S. Chess Federation.
One grandmaster expressed the revulsion felt by many observers: "It=92s
now abundantly clear that men and women of good conscience can no
longer support FIDE in the face of its hapless organizational bungling
and
callous destruction of professional careers."
For decades FIDE has ignored the views of most pros and arrogantly
stumbled into a series of scandals. Were FIDE to vanish tomorrow, who
would miss it?
[email protected] wrote:
> More comment from Chessdom //Phil Innes
>
> The real reasons behind the World Championship Cycle changes
> FIDE Grand Prix is almost collapsing, Montreux has left the series as
> well
> by Chessdom.com
>
> After FIDE has decided to change the current World Championship system
> and introduce an eight-player candidate tournament, the main question
> that arose was "why making changes in the middle of the cycle?" Here
> are some of the public reactions .
>
> As we've been unofficially told by a very trusted source, the
> explanation is fairly simple. The phrase "under changing
> circumstances" at the beginning of the related paragraph in the FIDE
> Press Release was a gentle way to say that FIDE Grand Prix model is
> falling apart. The abrupt cancellation of Doha was only the first
> domino in the chain, Montreux has left the series as well. The
> organizers from Switzerland did not provide the prize fund guarantee
> on time, furthermore, they have openly told FIDE to start seeking the
> new host for the April 2009 tournament.
>
> With the crippled Grand Prix, where possibly only four tournaments of
> the planned six would actually take place, and Karlovy Vary are yet to
> deposit the guarantee by the 15th of December, FIDE decided to step in
> and regain some of the "sovereignty" over the World Championship
> cycle. The Grand Prix is under the exclusive control of Global Chess,
> financed by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and David Kaplan.
>
> "In order to eliminate future uncertainties" referred to the
> possibility that GP won't be completed, thus the clause of two players
> from the ongoing series qualifying for the candidate tournament should
> provide some sense of fairness.
>
> It is very possible that UEP , the company behind the Anand-Kramnik
> match, will organize both candidate tournament and 2011 World
> Championship match. The bidding process will be started in a day or
> two, following the official announcement on the FIDE website.
>
> Source: chessdom.com
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Date: 04 Dec 2008 04:05:31
From:
Subject: Re: Whirled Championship
|
More comment from Chessdom //Phil Innes
The real reasons behind the World Championship Cycle changes
FIDE Grand Prix is almost collapsing, Montreux has left the series as
well
by Chessdom.com
After FIDE has decided to change the current World Championship system
and introduce an eight-player candidate tournament, the main question
that arose was "why making changes in the middle of the cycle?" Here
are some of the public reactions .
As we've been unofficially told by a very trusted source, the
explanation is fairly simple. The phrase "under changing
circumstances" at the beginning of the related paragraph in the FIDE
Press Release was a gentle way to say that FIDE Grand Prix model is
falling apart. The abrupt cancellation of Doha was only the first
domino in the chain, Montreux has left the series as well. The
organizers from Switzerland did not provide the prize fund guarantee
on time, furthermore, they have openly told FIDE to start seeking the
new host for the April 2009 tournament.
With the crippled Grand Prix, where possibly only four tournaments of
the planned six would actually take place, and Karlovy Vary are yet to
deposit the guarantee by the 15th of December, FIDE decided to step in
and regain some of the "sovereignty" over the World Championship
cycle. The Grand Prix is under the exclusive control of Global Chess,
financed by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and David Kaplan.
"In order to eliminate future uncertainties" referred to the
possibility that GP won't be completed, thus the clause of two players
from the ongoing series qualifying for the candidate tournament should
provide some sense of fairness.
It is very possible that UEP , the company behind the Anand-Kramnik
match, will organize both candidate tournament and 2011 World
Championship match. The bidding process will be started in a day or
two, following the official announcement on the FIDE website.
Source: chessdom.com
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Date: 03 Dec 2008 12:13:57
From:
Subject: Re: Whirled Championship
|
And Chessdom has added an as yet unavowed piece of news:
"As Chessdom has been unofficially told by a very trusted source, the
explanation is fairly simple. The phrase "under changing
circumstances" at the beginning of the related paragraph in the FIDE
Press Release was a gentle way to say that FIDE Grand Prix system is
falling apart. The abrupt cancellation of Doha was only the first
domino in the chain, Montreux has left the series as well."
Chessbase also report troubles with the 'reunification' series,
publishing yesterday;
"The cauldron is on the boil, FIDE has changed the World Championship
qualification regulations, Alexei Shirov has lodged a protest. Now
Magnus Carlsen, represented by his father Henrik, is hinting at legal
action and withdrawal from the cycle."
With a very likely candidate in the race, in Gata Kamsky, USCF are so
far officially silent - and are likely to remain that way, at least in
terms of acting together to effect affairs.
Dresden rolled out the red carpet for chess players recently, and just
a few years ago the chat among GMs was to shift the nexus for
championships, individual or team, much further West. Everyone seemed
to like Paris or London, for example.
If nothing happens to mend the current rift, maybe we will even see
that coming about - interest in doing anything in Elista is very
small, anything to do with going there, organized from there, and even
embarassment with being connected with there.
The rift is so strong, and national chess federations so weak - its
the player-candidates themselves who are acting up. And why not - Who
else represents their opinions? Even the professional players
organization [ACP] seem to have small influence in what goes on in the
interminable process of arranging the world champion cycle.
Phil Innes
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