Shirov speaks (3RD UPDATE)
29 May 2008 10:21 AM CET | Last modified: 9:51 | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Reports | Tags: Press release
After many months, FIDE still hasn’t been able to confirm details around the Kamsky-Topalov match, and one of many who’ve lost their patience, is Alexei Shirov. The World Cup finalist says that by now he should be replacing Kamsky. Updates with comment by FIDE and by team Kamsky.
Several times FIDE extended the deadline to receive additional bids to hold the Kamsky-Topalov match. On May 15, 2008 it seemed only a matter of days for FIDE to confirm the bid done by Kamsky’s manager Chernenko to organize the match in Lviv, Ukraine. That was two weeks ago.
If this bid will be rejected then FIDE will return to the Bulgarian offer to host the match (which had already been accepted in June last year). However, as Kamsky has made clear that he doesn’t want to play in Bulgaria, a possible scenario is that Shirov, who lost the World Cup final to Kamsky (Khanty-Mansiysk, December 2007), will play Topalov. Yes, the same Shirov who, after beating Kramnik in a 1998 candidates match, waited in vain for his deserved match against Kasparov, in a similar policital scuffle.
Here’s what Shirov wrote today:
With this short press release I would like to bring attention to the following facts:
1. In spite of having passed all the possible deadlines, FIDE still has not announced the venue of the match Topalov-Kamsky. That means that the match should normally take place in Bulgaria because the Lvov offer seems not to have been materialized.
2. Mr. Gata Kamsky has declared that he does not wish to play in Bulgaria. According to the match regulations he should be replaced by me in this case.
3. It is absolutely clear that the silence and uncertainty should end and the firm decision about the forthcoming match should be taken. Nobody can wait forever and this concerns the reserve players as well.
Alexei Shirov, Tarragona, 29.05.2008
Update 13:10 hrs CET
I just spoke on the phone with George Mastrokoukos, a FIDE official working at the FIDE Secretariat in Athens, Greece. He couldn’t provide any details yet, as “the Kamsky-Topalov match will be discussed at the Presidential Board Meeting this weekend.” He did reveal that until now, the money of the Chernenko/Lviv bid has not been received by FIDE. So a possible Kamsky replacement by Shirov must be on the meeting’s agenda.
Update Fr, May 30, 20.22 CET
Chessbase comes with a reaction from the Kamsky camp:
To FIDE President Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
May 29, 2008
Awaiting FIDE determination regarding the bid made by Mr. Oleksandr Chernenko for the Kamsky-Topalov match and the official contract from FIDE that determines the rights and obligations of both players, on behalf of Gata Kamsky I would like to address disturbing rumors that are being spread in press by Aleksey Shirov.
Since Gata Kamsky intends to play against Vaselin Topalov and did not officially decline to play against him, it is inappropriate for A. Shirov to offer his candidacy before official FIDE resolution on that issue has been made.
Accordingly please provide a working draft of the documents that FIDE anticipates GM Kamsky and GM Topalov to execute. Should you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Bella Kamskaya, Esq., at bkkrupnicklaw (at) optonline.net
Sincerely,
Bella Kamskaya
Update June 3:
Chessbase has posted a new comment by Shirov:
I do not quite understand why Mrs. Kamskaya used such words as “Shirov’s disturbing rumours” in her answer. I think I was just operating with public facts such as Mrs. Kamskaya’s communication with FIDE earlier this year. And, of course, Mrs. Kamskaya knows that both Rustam and Gata Kamsky talked to me about the matter in April during the Russian league, so once again, no rumours involved.
Of course, it is very important for the players and the Chess World in general that FIDE has finally resolved the situation. This is exactly what I wanted with my press release five days ago.
Alexei Shirov,
Tarragona, 1.06.2008
Relevant posts:
- “Kamsky-Topalov bid still not confirmed” (May 18, 2008)
- “Kamsky-Topalov in Lviv, Ukraine� (April 11, 2008)
- “Kamsky-Topalov: End of November” (February 12, 2008)
If Gata doesn´t want to play this match, I can do it. Topa, 1. d4.
Sincerelly, again the same Mexican novelette!
A shame!
First, Topalov signed a contract in which the loser will not play Mexico Tournament for WorldChampionship.
Now, he cames to here by belgian parachutte and stops WorldChampionship definition.
HEY! FIDE! WAKE UP, please!
Didn´t you learnt with Kasparov´s mess?
Valéria.
Topalov wants to play. Gata is running from the match.
Is another mess just beginning?
In my opinion, it´s just not fair that the match take place in one of the contender´s countries. It should be held in neutral ground. And I can´t believe that it can be so hard to find a country in the world willing to spend 200,000 dollars in such a match. Come on! This is a total joke, and FIDE as an organization is very badly organized. But I think Shirov has a point. I wouldn´t be surprised to see a players´ rebellion against FIDE. I can think right now of quite a long list of names of players damaged by their poor organization at some point of their career.
fair or not fair the only REAL bid is the one Bulgarians made, so far we heard nothing but promises from the Kamsky camp. FIDE is really losng points here, the only real reason for the delay I can come up with is that they are tempted by the larger fee they will take.
they can have the tourney at my house! i have a very nice porch and table with a set they can use.
also, i have a fold-out bed (nice and new!), but v + g would have to share it!
i could also provide free cereal for breakfast, and mcdonalds for dinner for the participants.
if they are interested, just let me know.
It is a shame of FIDE not able to find a neural place for top match evens. The match of Kramnik - Topalov was a bad event.
I agree that a match should not take place on the home ground of one of the players. I think it is an unfair advantage.
It’s a pity chess is marred by politics so much, but alas, it’s a fact… Could anyone explain to me why Topa was granted this match, other than politics? He did sign a valid contract stating the loser of his last match with Kramnik wouldn’t play in Mexico, after all… To me this seems unfair to all other players.
Kamsky’s manager is named Chernenko? Was Andropov unavailable?
Can’t they do first half of the match in Lviv and the second half in Lvov?
Thanks, that was funny, I laughed plenty.
well in the topalov-kramnik contract there was also written that a revenge match had to be organize before mexico… But kramnik — of course— refused… but no measure no action had been taken against him
so the contract have been not honored by kramnik at first
this situation it’s normal when a organization like fide is too weak or too lobbist
and frankly speaking the Lviv issue it’s not due to Topalov. He said also that is available to play everywhere except in Russia and he also prefare to play outside Bulgaria (in order to avoid stress for owing bulgarian to win in his native country). He accepted Lviv, But the diamonds merchant (chenerko) is short in cash I guess ;-))
If I were in FIde I would accept diamonds as well ;-))
Lucius
@ Ines
A few points:
- Do you think Elista was really a “neutral ground” for the 2006 Kramnik-Topalov match?
- You can’t believe it’s hard to find 200k USD for this match. Why so? Facts - up to now - show that no one found that money. FIDE postponed deadlines several times to make it possible to find some sponsor willing to give that money, to no avail.
- FIDE *asked* the Bulgarians to find money and organize this match. They just complied. Just like you, I don’t like maches that are played in one of the contender’s home country, but it would be silly to use double standards here.
- I would like FIDE to set up rules that last more than a few days or months. But in this chaotic situation, if people don’t comply to what has been established, the only result will be that this match will never happen. Ask Shirov about this last point
Cheers.
Lucius: “well in the topalov-kramnik contract there was also written that a revenge match had to be organize before mexico…”
Not true.
@ ~~~~
Right. But there was a rule that any 2700+ player could challenge the current WC if he could meet a few requirements. That rule misteriously disappeared…
test…
That rule didn’t disappear, Janis — it was simply that team Topalov could not meet those requirements. In particular, their bid came too late for the match to be played within the time range the rules stipulated.