Morozevich: “No Grand Prix for me”
21 February 2008 16:12 PM | Last modified: 17:48
Bad news for Global Chess, the organizers of the new Grand Prix tournaments. In an interview, Alexander Morozevich criticizes the new series and says he won’t play.
Morozevich, currently the number four in the world, wasn’t in Wijk aan Zee last month and he’s not playing Morelia/Linares. Now he has made clear, in an interview with Yuri Vasilyev for Sport-Express, that he won’t be participating in the first Grand Prix Series either. Why?
“It doesn’t seem attractive to me. You can judge for yourself, but this cycle will take about four years! In 2008, we begin with the qualification for a world championship match that takes place in 2011. This was not even in the times of Smyslov and Botvinnik. Only after the winners of the Grand Prix and the World Cup are determinded, one can play for the title of world champion, a year and a half later. It takes this long before the “subordination” in the chess world may change.
Secondly, the complexity. To reach the final match, the contenders must participate in four (!) tournament in a periode of two years. For leading players, this is a serious infraction of of their individual tournament schedule.
But my decision was definitely influenced by the fact that Global Chess has not yet been able to cope with the organization of the Grand Prix. Grandmasters have to sign a contract to take part in four tournaments of which it’s unclear where and when they will exactly be held. In such a situation, agreeing in advance to play, would be a wrong decision, I would say.
(…)
As far as I know, Anand, Kramnik and Topalov also declined to play in the Grand Prix. However, my position does not depend on anyone’s opinion. I have faced a similar situation before the World Championship knock-out system in Las Vegas in 1999. As a result, I also did not play there.”
The qualified players for the Grand Prix were expected to send the document of their signed undertaking (here in PDF) to FIDE no later than midnight, 15 February 2008. Thus far, FIDE has not published a list of confirmed participants.
Vasilyev also asked Morozevich why he didn’t play in Wijk aan Zee now also not in Morelia/Linares:
“At the Superfinal in Russia I had a lot of long games so I decided to take some rest in January. And regarding Morelia/Linares, it’s different. Having experienced all “flavors” last year, games on different continents, in different time zones and climate conditions, I started to dislike this “splitting”. A long flight, and only a three-day break before starting the second half, is not good for my internal rhythm, tone, dynamics. Incidentally, as far as I know, Kramnik and Mamedyarov hold the same opinion.”
I really wonder if the organizers are able to find the scheduled 14(!) players for the Baku GP. So far I have only heard of Radjabov, Mamedyarov and Gashimov (the organizers can invite one player of their own choice) playing it.
Not playing are: Anand, Kramnik, Morozevich (all 3 not playing GP at all?), Topalov (MTel)
Since both Dos Hermanas (Topalov, Shirov, Polgar & Pons) and MTel (Topalov, Ivanchuk, Radjabov, Aronian, Cheparinov, Bu) are almost overlapping, those players might be reluctant to join Baku, although Radjabov apparently plays both MTel and Baku.
More info on who is qualified to play and GP rules: http://www.chessvibes.com/fide/qualification-criteria-grand-prix-announced/
Btw, I’d really like to see Morozevich playing some tournaments again.
While not disagreeing necessarily with his concerns, I think Morozevich shouldn’t be looking the gift horse of chess sponsorship in the mouth. When you’re playing with other people’s money, you play by their rules; sponsorship is too nebulous at present and the chess world needs to make a good faith effort even if not conducive to best chess.
Vasilyev also asked Morozevich why he didn’t play in Wijk aan Zee now also not in Morelia/Linares: “At the Superfinal in Russia I had a lot of long games so I decided to take some rest in January….”
I thought the Wijk organisation did not invite him because he pulled out late in the edition the year before that. Is Moro dodging the question here?
Yes, this couldn’t have been the reason. Most of the participants sign their Corus contracts already during the summer.
Aronian won’t play in baku either!
I wonder what they do if all top 10 refuse to join the cycle. will it split the chess world yet again?
Peter, I think you have some obvious questions to ask players in interviews!
if they want to comment it at this time.
Ben Bentrup: “When you’re playing with other people’s money, you play by their rules”. My my, marvel at the pleasant world outlook of the little capitalist!