Good he did it.

Now he can have his 3 days postponed!

Cheers.

I think the date on YouTube is wrong, as Anand makes references that leads me to believe it was taped last year. But it's well worth watching.

Sergiev statement http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2010/anand-topalov-live-sofia and thanks for the videos:)

@SXL In fact the YouTube date is probably right, which means the interview was conducted exactly a year ago. I've mentioned that in the article.

Make the openning ceremony in order to execute the main arrangements and then give Anand a full week.

Why not full year?

what a joke! Why on earth did he travel by bus?

@Paul

Anand likes a challenge. He likes to give himself as big a disadvantage as possible. On the day before the first game he will run a marathon.

Haha. What a joke and what extent the cheats at Bulgarian Chess Federation will go to make the field uneven.

What "understanding" is Georgios Makropoulos talking about? All so very bureaucratic -
"Ah, you see we understand, but we cannot . . ."
"Ah, you see we can really understand, but we really cannot ...."
"Ah, you see we can really, really understand, but we really, really cannot ...."

What a joke.

So they would'nt postphone, right. Losers.

@Paul

"Why on earth travel on bus?" - What size if the team accompanying him?

@Sherma

"Why no full year?" - Yeah, right, it might well be with the volcano spitting up, only this is not your backyard game of chess.

I believe he traveled by bus so that he could accommodate the entire team of seconds, Aruna, baggage, computers etc. to arrive in Sofia as a single unit and also the bus probably gave him sufficient space to sleep and also do some practice!.

Bus ride is a way to remembering his root and like "test" says, give him a big challenge!

After this saga, we may concluded that this volcano story was a great marketing tool. Who know!?

P.S. I heard that Topalov will play with sunglasses. lol

now anand have a full 3 days for rest so everything will be ok for the first game on 23-th. i wish to him and to topalov good luck and let we see a gret fighting chess from them!

they just didn't provide any reasons in that extra letter. It basicly says that, yeah, the event is planned to this date, we don't want to change it, and we are writing some other stuff here so we seem to say something new and relevant but in fact we aren't. What super frustrating people to have to deal with.

But, the decision must be FIDE's and not the bulgarians, or am I missing something?

I was waiting to see how much more graceful their Prime Minister is compared to the others in the Org committee who have been issuing statements left and right on this issue. Now we know the answer. At least they spared us remarks from the head on the reasons why the postponement could not be done. So, it is all clear - they will take whatever benefit they can out of the situation. Time to see if FIDE will show some spine. Going by their track record it would be a huge surprise if they did.

Well, if FIDE now postpones the match, what happens if the organizers call for reimbursements? If this goes to a court, and since Anand has arrived in Sofia, can force majeure be claimed?

FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos:
Point 1- " Everybody understands and cooperates. They see the problems of the other side. The one of Anand is obvious, this is force majeure. "
Point 2- "You cannot just go the day before and start playing. ... in the contract it says that he can come 7 days "

The overseeing body (FIDE) publically admitting that the situation is a Force majeure AND that he has contractual right to arrive 7 days before the match was a legal mistake. This is one reason lawyers tell people to say nothing.
It seems to me that the control now is totally in Anand's court.
He could claim breach of contract if the organizers refuse his request for a delay and walk away, probably with the minimum fee for playing to boot.
Anand has shown good faith by taking the bus to complete the contract. I suspect a court would side with Anand in any legal proceeding so now the organziers have to make a sacrifice too.

"not giving a three day postponement could give challenger Veselin Topalov a significant advantage"

This is a huge exageration, and just re-shows, by one of the parts involved, the undesirable acceptance of a "war on nerves", which the other part also showed, of course.

Children not behaving. Chess will continue elsewhere :-(

hah "extra", why you continue to speak about the bulgarians?? anand is already in sofia, so he have 3 days for rest befere the first game. the organizing of the worlf championship match is difficult challenge and the dates and contracts are strict. if anand was goes to travil by car (or bus) on 16th or 17th he were come in sofia on 18th or 19th, which means 4-5 days for rest before the first game. this is problem of his own team, not for the organizers! nevertheless he still have 3 days before the first game, so this is enough!

Is anyone else feeling like this is the start of a Monty Python skit...?
Organizing committee as the Knights who say Ni!
FIDE as the Brave Sir Robin

"All official guests and sponsors of the event have made their travel arrangements and plans so they can participate at the official Opening Ceremony on April 21st, 2010 and also at the first game on April 23rd, 2010. "

Anand should (would?) probably refuse to play the first game on principle (if not postponed) and let the "official guests" enjoy their "participation".

These people who say "3 days is enough".... how do they know that?? Have they ever played a 12 game match (let alone the World Championship match)?

BTW, have the official guests actually arrived? According to an interview with Makropoulos, even Ilyumzhinov may or may not come (in time).

please stop to cry for anand. in whole europe all sport games and tournaments are not change the dates, and the players travel with a bus. who ask them? they play for money, they are profesionals, anand too! he is already in sofia, he have a 3 full days for rest, so he can prove that he is great player and champion. so stop to cry and ask for more days (why not years...) they play for 2.000.000 EUR, everything is fixed and there are not problem the first game to start on 23th

Impressive, they actually managed to issue a statement without directly insulting Anand. However, I fail to see how they answer in any way to the issue raised by Anand. They're basically saying:

"We heard that Anand was late. We have already accepted a postponement of the game from the 5th to the 21st earlier this year. Our boss for this important even is really an important person himself. Everything has been tightly scheduled and therefore we cannot postpone anything."

Oh, a lot of people here behave like kids! Even Anand understands the situation! This chess event means a lot to Bulgaria, i.e. it means more than a mere WCC. Now imagine you are having important political delegates, artists, etc, that confirmed their presence at the opening ceremony and first game. How do you tell these VIP that they can just go to a restaurant instead? Especially having all the players in the city?! It´s a disrespect to the VIP´s! I´m sure Anand understands this as well. The "bulgarians" (please stop calling them like that, is an insult to the whole country) are being perfectly reasonable and FYI life has its own difficulties and just because you had some trouble doesnt means the whole world must stop to try to make you feel comfortable.

If the organizing committee considers the Bulgarian Prime Minister, guests and TV are more important than the player, what kind of organizing committee is this? Their statement is looking like a child's cry, repeating the same thing again and again without understanding the situation. I wish Anand should not play if they don't consider his request.

I have this feeling that this is just the beginning. The closer the time approaches for the first game, the more I understand Kramnik, who said he would never play with Topalov in Bulgaria.

I´d say the president or prime minister of any country, especially if of the host country, is indeed very important! But your blinded biased minds do not see it.

I'm with Tony, and I see in the makropoulos statement more than enough reason to postpone (or force it afterwards in a court)

Now we see 'the bulgarians' raising the stakes by namedropping their national president. Every chess player should have enough poker knowledge to see the losing hand bluffing towards an all-in. My advice would to Anand would be, just call.

To most of ya... keep dreaming about the court! What a ridiculous statement! ROFL!

Its not the court Vesco, that would be afterwards and compkletly administrative anyway.

Its the mere fact that lawyers start sensing where the pain is centred, which will do the damage for the bulgarian site.

We don't give a **** about the schedule of the Bulgarian PM. Let him come some other time. He anyways seems to have no work other than organizing a Chess Tournament. And who cares about the Bulgarians coming up with the bid for the match because without their bid Anand would continue to be the champ without a match :)

(I was not intending to shout at chessdom offcourse, but at the bulgarian side, pardon my dunglish)

All the Bulgarians are active on Chessvibes. Actually some 200 of them who have Internet connection, including their PM :) :)

@Vesco: I guess the first game would be postponed if both players managed to arrive as planned, but the prime minister is late or cannot make it?

The issue isn't whether he is (very) important, but whether he is more important than one of the players. In other words: making a symbolic first move seems more important than playing an entire high-quality and high-stakes game?

"How do you tell these VIP that they can just go to a restaurant instead? Especially having all the players in the city?! It´s a disrespect to the VIP´s!"

Considering the fact that no sane man, with an exception of chess players themselves, would rather watch two adult men moving wooden figurines about than eating in a fine restaurant, the VIPs would be delighted, if not delivered.

If Anand refuse to play Kramnik get his spot.

This argument about VIP's is really quite ridiculous. Whoever are these VIPs, they should really be able to stay a few days more in the wonderful city of Sofia; enjoy the week-end, the spring, the great architecture and the many great restaurants there. The only Very Important Persons that should matter are Anand and Topalov.

The job of competent organizers is to deal with the unexpected and re-organize things so that the event can run smoothly. Now it looks like they have achieved the exact opposite. The World Championship is seriously compromised. They should be sacked.

"If Anand refuse to play Kramnik get his spot."

That means that Anand soon as possible will play.

Anand is too nice. He should have stopped on the border of Bulgaria, taken a couple of days rest, and rolled in on the last day.
Heh heh, give Topalov something to stress about.

I don´t understand why you all make stress out of this situation, Anand is there now let´s enjoy the games. Anand should not feed the Bulgarian trolls, otherwise toiletgate II will happen. He should just play, yes... PLAY. That´s why he is there and i think he´s very motivated to play Topalov otherwise i wouldn´t understand why he got there with bus.

Let´s hope for some epic games! :D

If Anand refuses to play, Topalov can play with the VVIPs because they have allotted their valuable time, that should not go waste.

Its force majeure, people. Anand will just have to accept his bad luck and give his best shot at beating Topalov.

What I'd liked to have seen was a more active organizing commitee from the start. They should have contacted Anand day one and offered to help him.

"During the official FIDE congress in Kallithea (Greece) in November 2009, the World Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov was scheduled for 5th of April 2010. At the instance of Mr. Anand the starting date was changed to 21st of April 2010."

What an incredible statement! How in the world is this related to the current situation? This is totally ridiculous and shows how they will treat any problems that may arise during the match.
I can understand that the OC doesn't like the idea of postponing. If I was the organizer it would certainly give me nightmares. But what a completely out of context nonsense. Are these really the people who are making decisions?

The whole organizational situation has given me the feeling that Anand is up against the Bulgarian OC and FIDE, because the Topalov camp has excellent connections to both. The official website shows nothing but Topalov and his friends. And I am sure that the OC does absolutely nothing that has not been approved by mr. Danailov.

By the way, why did Anand not inform the world about his problems earlier? Well, I was in a similar state of mind: I learnt that my flight was cancelled, but that it was expected that on Friday the 16th the airport would be opened again by noon. Then on the Friday morning, it was expected that the airport would be opened again by 8 pm, etc., etc. In other words, I was made believe that I would be able to travel with less than half a day delay. Four days later, we're still not flying.

Who is more important, the organisers who bring up money to sponsor an event and pay the players; or the players (World Champion) who come to make money.

Until chess has the same corporate association like Football, tennis or golf; Beggars cannot be Choosers.

Let's remember, chess is a non-profitable sport!?

Why are the Bulgarians such ---deleted---?

Sorry for my language but that is really the way I feel.

Who is more important, the organisers who bring up money to sponsor an event and pay the players; or the players (World Champion) who come to make money.

Until chess has the same corporate association like Football, tennis or golf; Beggars cannot be Choosers...

Let's remember, chess is a non-profitable sport!?

@Peter Dodgers: Would you do something with previous post? Or words like these are normaly when refer to Bulgarian nation?

Because all the important cronies there are typical post-Soviet corruptocrats. Same thing all over the fSU.

1. Logic does not work with Bulgarians.
2. All junior politicians are coming for the opening ceremony to develop some network with the senior politicians. The Senior politicians coming to stand next to the Bulgarian PM and appear in the evening news. The Bulgarian PM is coming because he has no work. He is organizing a Chess Match. Never heard US President is the head of World Basketball Champ or UK Pres organizing Cricket World Cup or French Pres organizing Football World Cup :)
3. In a Bulgarian movie, the hero always knows that the Villain has hidden transmitters in his toilet.

4. One can hardly distinguish Topalov's Team from Organizing Committee and Oraganizing Committee from Bulgarian government (I stole this comment from Chessninja board)

@Sherman: How long would take Peter's help. I think you should stop and think why 99% people outside Bulgaria don't agree with Bulgarian's behaviour. I still how Cheparinov had to apologize to Short and re-play the forfeited game on a rest day. Bulgarians like Danailov and Cheparinov have brought bad name to all Bulgarians.

I wasn't convinced Anand deserved a 3 day delay of the games, becasue he is actually there and it was all agreed a long while ago.

He should have left more room in his original timetable if he absolutely needed to be in Sofia 7 days before the first game. Fair enough he could not predict a volcano erupting but with frequent terror alerts going by plane is no longer as certain as it was.

Besides, he has the moral high ground now whatever happens.

Who is more important, the organisers who bring up money to sponsor an event and pay the players; or the players (World Champion) who come to make money.

Until chess has the same corporate association like Football, tennis or golf; Beggars cannot be Choosers..

Let's remember, chess is a non-profitable sport!?

@Sherman Why? Let desicion to mr Doggers. Some coments is like monument of human stupidity :)

Moral is no legal category. That is nonsense in that case. This WCC match and not meeting of old friends. There is contract. If Anand prove that his official statements & legal notice(not moral) has ground then ok.

If FIDE doesn't do anything about this, I would think it would be a good idea for Anand to play Game 1 "under protest" exactly like Kramnik did, i.e. if he can't drill sense into the FIDE heads. That would at least highlight to the world that this match is getting underway under unfair conditions to one competitor (the defending champion, to boot), how one-sided the organizers are, and how spineless FIDE is as an organization to keep up anything, including their word.

If Elista06 provides any lessons, it is that fighting with a bunch of unreasonable people isn't always fruitful at least in the near term. So, while Anand may have all the legal pluses on his side, it would be an ordeal to get through the near term. Plus he would have to put up with "oh, you are scared!" high-school bullying nonsense.

some wise ones on these boards already commented "what a sissy" etc.. as if he could've started jogging frankfurt-sofia, no sweat.
before someone starts repeating "oh, he has 3 days!", first of all it is 2. He arrived on tuesday, game 1 starts friday. Next, it is the World Championship (not one of those weekend tournaments you go to, assuming you actually do play in some), and the 7 days clause is there in the contract for a reason.

@Lone-Tiger: "Until chess has the same corporate association like Football, tennis or golf; Beggars cannot be Choosers.."

Well for that specific reason only in Chess its the WC who is in a stronger position for challengers, you can say that Beggars cannot be Choosers. We all know how FIDE danced around Kaspy and Kramnik for a WC match over last 15 years. History of Chess is actually one example where the World Champ has always had the upper hand in all negotiations.

@Guillaume
I agree, the BCF managed to deny the request but at least without any insults this time. They are learning, thats something positive.

FIDE is trying to play the safe game and not committing at all. Finally for the first time Anand's team has shown some aggression in attitude
"Had Alexander Alekhine been in Anand’s place, he would have sought a postponement of atleast a week as world champions ruled and challengers were at the mercy of champions."

I am happy to see that, otherwise the BCF will just take you for a ride and will treat you as though Topalov is the current WC and Anand is the challenger. There seems to absolutely no difference between the organizer and Topalov's team. Where is neutrality? , surely a clause that must have been signed in by all somewhere in the contract.

@Aingle Pack 99% people outside Bulgaria don’t agree with Bulgarian’s behaviour.

You did a sociological poll or just talking?

@chessfan, and anyone else defending the organizers for no reason:

the point is not wether or not the match should be delayed. In fact, it might not be that nessecary, I guess. Im sure Anand has played under far worse conditions. The point is that the organizers are, simply put:
-unpolite
-seemingly very biased toward one of the particippants (immidiately accusing the other side, on very loose grounds, of "playing head games" and such)
-incapable of arguing for what they think should be done (not delaying anything), and putting forth arguments that are simply irrelevant and weird.

So, Bulgarians in the chess world are showing themselves (again, sadly) to be very beurocratic and very annoying having to deal with. It is just so very unnessecary since they could have easily handled the situation with the same end result but not having their already doubtful reputation dragged in the dirt. But what do they do? They start by accusing the world champion of head games and dishonesty, then continue with idiotic arguments about everyone knowing when the event begins and "everyone else managing to get there on time just fine", and finish it off with with an incoherent statement that says almost nothing (certainly nothing new, and nothing to answer the point from Anand that conditions are unfair). It is actually a little surprising how bad they are at handling relations and making sound arguments. But just a little.

They keep saying: "This match is very important for
Bulgaria..." Who cares?!
It's not about Bulgaria at all! It's about the world chess community.
The organizers need to know their place, they were gracefully allowed to be hosts, so do whatever you can to accomodate players. And FIDE must take the lead, this is ridiculous. Karpov must be smiing now.

@john "He should have left more room in his original timetable if he absolutely needed to be in Sofia 7 days prior..."

Be aware of the contracts before you speak such things. It was because Anand and his team wanted time to acclimatize, the organizers agreed to give him accommodation 7 days prior to the start. It was Anand's choice to have the 7 days, otherwise he would have had none and would have to arrive just a day or so before the match.

The 7 days does include some room for flight delays and cancellations. It was wise on Anand's team to have the 7 days at least. But nobody can plan a timetable with room for a volcano in it. Why dont you try planning a simple vacation assuming that there will be volcano erupting.

Lone-Tiger: Stop to ask who is more importanat, players or the sponsors and VIP persons. Don't forget that the prize pool is 3.000.000 EUR, so if there was no sponsors and VIP's the match will be not possible. Anand play for money, not for smile, so the people which give a money must be have our respect! Because in these iconomical crisis it's very hard to find people which give a 3.000.000 EUR for chess and wthis was the hard work to tha manager Danailov and all organizers so, please shown some respect! Anand is already in Sofia, he have almost 4 days for rest, so stop ty cry for him. At the end of match he will be with 1.000.000 EUR mire rich! He is profesional player, not kid.

@Cheesfan: For your sake, you can do a simple count on this forum (and others if you want), how many people are posting in favour of Anand and how many in favour of BCF.

And you should not even think of a survey. it will be a major embarrassment for you.

Topalov will probably write a new book: 'ashgate', which again no one wants to read

Yesterday i proposed. Why USA or Netherlands don't put money on the table and prove his high moral value in organizing of WCC. No one don't answered. For example i don't like president Obama but I don't insult citizens of USA because of their president.

"how many people are posting in favour of Anand and how many in favour of BCF."

What this prove? That bulgarians are many or that is a indian are many?

UPDATED CHESS WHEATHER FORECAST……..

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8898/chesswheatherforecast58.jpg

the best argument ever: they can't postpone the first game, because His Highness President of Bulgaria has to make the first move.

This is not illogical. This is INSANE.

again at chessfan, of course morality is to be taken into consideration. This is not an economic transaction, this is a sports event. In a sports event, one of the important things that makes it legitimate is fairness, equal conditions (or rather, not conditions that aren't veryunfair). And this match is in the end also about being the world champion of chess, it is not just a match about winning 60% and not 40% of the prize fund. Fairness matters. (Then if the conditions are fair is another questions. But you should agree that things should be fair, no?).

I have a question for you, do you think that the organizers are handling this situation in a professional way?

INSANE is not communicate to organizers and tell them that there was a problem. German manager of Anand was in Bulgaria but no commenting that Anand's team is in Frankfurt.

@Cheesfan: Forget about the WC match and Chess for a second. Objectively I think its not the right use of funds (3 mil Euro) by the Bulgarian sponsors in such an Economy. A professional sports event should run purely on its market value and returns that it can offer. I don't care where FIDE would have gone to find sponsors. At least Brissago and Bonn WC sponsors had an aim at publicity and brand building. I don't think the Bulgarian sponsor can hope to generate enough returns (in increased business, for example) from this match. At best they can try to get some government business because PM is in the loop. Well that essentially means corruption and a waste of public money. For this simple reason governments usually don't get into professional sports organization.

Well when you brag about 3 mil Euro, you can keep doing that but the WC does not lose anything if BCF does not organize a WC match. It's the challenger who loses. May be you should some History of Chess WC Matches starting from Steinitz.

Think about it.

people, are you crazy to think that the organizers and VIP's which give 3 millions Eur for this match are not important?? do you blind to see that anand is already in bulgaria and have almost 4 days for rest before the first game? he have a contract and he will win a big money from this match. he have excellent hotel, playing hall and great securitym the cheating is not possible, so where is the problem to play after 4 days???? stop to crya please. let we see a great fighting chess.

I have a question for you, do you think that the organizers are handling this situation in a professional way?

Yes

@chessfan "Yesterday i proposed. Why USA or Netherlands don’t put money on the table and prove his high moral value in organizing of WCC"

Bulgaria organized this WCC because Topalov was the challenger. Its very simple, otherwise why does it care. But it has to bear in mind that Anand is the world champion and his demands be respected and in a time like this to administer fair conditions of play. If the BCF wants to keep a name for itself, then it better provide fair conditions of play. We are no one to say Anand is or is not tired after his journey. Only he knows that.

Most of the "dignitaries" attending the first game are local, they don't have to come across Europe to attend. What do they care when the first game is played?

And for those who DO have to come from across Europe (like Ilyumzhinov), they would probably be happy with a postponement.

@Aingle Pack Thanks for briefly economical education. I started thinking. FIDE choose BCF for organizing the match. Ask FIDE for answers that's no my call. BCF wants organize the match. And raise that fund. There many richest countries and companies but they just not willing to pay the price. Americans loving to say - show me the money.

Let's draw a parallel to boxing, which to me looks like the closest kin to chess as far as the WC match is concerned: only two "players" engaged in an exhausting fight.
Mike Tyson (sorry, I'm not up to date) arrives to Las Vegas only four days before the title bout at the MGM grand and requests to postpone the fight for another three days because he needs a full week in Vegas to be fully fit for the match. What do you think should/would occur?
Feel free to throw a prime minister of sorts in the mix too.

@chessfan I fully agree

I have a feeling the organizers have sort of decided to postpone the match by a couple of days, but they are just trying to keep up the tension in Anand's team by saying no and would reveal it as late as Thursday. I mean the BCF knows there are several FIDE officials who are yet to arrive. The second arbiter, appeals committee, President nobody is in Sofia yet. Amongst those who are stranded/yet to come, Anand has been the first and has gone through an ordeal.

In boxing was many verses titles. And there we talk for branding , money and management. In chess situation is much diferent.

Aside from these, will chessvibes be providing videos of the opening ceremony? Could we expect some links here by end of tomorrow ?

@ Coco Loco

if the contract contained:
1) arrival 1 week before the first game clause
and
2) force major clause,

then it doesn't matter what you or I "think should/would occur".

now that cheesfan fully agrees with chessfan, the discussion is closed

I have a feeling the organizers have sort of decided to postpone the match by a couple of days, but they are just trying to keep up the tension in Anand’s team by saying no and would reveal it as late as Thursday. I mean the BCF knows there are several FIDE officials who are yet to arrive. The second arbiter, appeals committee, President nobody is in Sofia yet. Amongst those who are stranded/yet to come, Anand has been the first and has gone through an ordeal.

There are reasonable thinking and not just insults to organizers from readers.

@Cheesfan: "FIDE choose BCF for organizing the match. Ask FIDE for answers that’s no my call. BCF wants organize the match. And raise that fund"

Dude, when I said waste of public money, I meant Bulgarian public's money. Why would FIDE care, where the money is coming from? They are actually earning from this match! Anand and Topa will also earn from this match.

As far as, "richest countries and companies not willing to pay the price..." is concerned, how should I make you understand that they don't think 3 mil Euro is the marketable value of a Chess WC Match. Its the truth, even if its harsh for us Chess followers. As a matter of fact, England didn't have any super-tournament for last so many decades until London started in Dec, 2009.

Even great Kasparov could not find sponsors for his matches. Simply because the market-value of these Chess WC matches is very low and 3 mil is definitely seems just "an inappropriate use of public money by the Bulgarian Govt, where only Anand, Topalov and FIDE will earn".

@VladR Why??

"Dude, when I said waste of public money, I meant Bulgarian public’s money. Why would FIDE care, where the money is coming from? They are actually earning from this match! Anand and Topa will also earn from this match."

Dude I aware of all that and I a Topalov's fan. That not me scares.

@VladR: "now that cheesfan fully agrees with chessfan, the discussion is closed"

:) :) :)

@cheesfan: "Dude I aware of all that and I a Topalov’s fan. That not me scares."

It was not to scare you but to educate you about a brewing corruption by your Government.

And you forgot your own question, 'Why FIDE gave the contract to BCF' and my answer was 'because they are making from you guys' Got it!

Your goverment is not corrupt and i happy for you!

But you wish see match that was sponsored by goverment's corruption :)
And educated me of course. Let me to be straight - funds a no public and from private sponsors. See logos on pictures from the venue. My goverment only garanties prize fund ,dude.

Well one thing is for sure. In future, nobody is ever going to agree to play a WC match in Bulgaria again.

@Aingle Pack You must bett on this dude :)

@cheesfan: You seriously think, that the Private Sponsor ever hoped to get returns from this match more than he is spending. Why the PM has to guarantee this match? So much for trustworthiness of the private sponsor. Professional sports are not organized with guarantee from the government.

aingle, why??? the organization of the match is excellent! do you see tha playing hall, hotels and all other thinks live or just speak yourself aboute bulgaria??? the conditions are the best and never been better in the previouse matches. the security for the cheating also are the best in the world - every single visitor will be checked (as in the match Kamsky-Topalov), no mobile phones or electronic devices, the blind glass between the players and visitors etc. so the organization is the perfect for the playerstto do the best in his games. so after almost 4 days we will see a great chess i hope. 4 days are enough for anand to take a rest and play for his fans and to take 1 milion eur...

In Chess that is fact. For example Elista 2006,2007, chess olimpiads.

The discussion has become quite unfriendly and hasn't got many participants left. So I'd suggest you guys call it a day too, or start discussing chess mov(i)es, to keep this forum nice and clean.

Chill. Anand can rest enough. There is nothing he needs to do anyway. He has done all his preparation.

People stop answering chessfans post, he is obviosuly a troll and you all know:
DON`T FEED THE TROLL!!

The official website says "On April 21st the official Opening Ceremony will be broadcasted live starting at 17.45 EEST ",

Does anybody know if the games (video) will be live?

Will chessvibes be recording the full video of all games?

On a totally unrelated note, I saw the add here on ChessVibes for the book "Play Chess Like the PROs" by Danny Gormally. ROTFLMAO! It should have been titled "How to Punch Aronian Like a Sissy Over His Girlfriend"!

"People stop answering chessfans post, he is obviosuly a troll and you all know:
DON`T FEED THE TROLL!!"

Well I cheesfan oblige to immediately stopped posting but chessfan obviously is not a troll. One bulgarian but not a troll too left the friendly "chessvibes" site.

@Harish
If I can fly, I'll try to create daily videos, based on the games and the press conferences afterwards and hopefully interviews with interesting people. However, it's quite unclear to what extent the media will be allowed to film during the game. E.g. during Topalov-Kamsky this was not allowed. Besides, the organizers request 15,000 Euros (!) for using the official material, including the right to transmit the games live. Yes, there we go again...

I wonder who will pay the (unprecedented!!??) 15,000 Euros, and who will transmit the live games without official permission and payment ... more scandals to come I predict.

Harish Srinivasan has a good point that others also have trouble reaching Sofia - taken from the Makropoulos interview, while the organizers for the time being pretend that Anand is the only one, hence it must be his own fault ... . But I don't see Ilyumzhinov travelling overland from Elista to Sofia.

BTW, there is coverage by Hans-Walter Schmitt (in German) at www.chess-tigers.com . I won't translate much, just one sentence: "They [the organizers] put economic advantages for the country and city of Sofia above the interest of the world champion and the entire chess world to see a fair match with equal conditions." He is obviously biased (so am I !?) but I agree with him.

Final point: Barcelona lost their Champions League match in Milan - will there be renewed discussions about their bus trip now?

ChessDom will get "permission" (without having to pay the 15.000), ChessBase will not get the "permission", unless they pay the 15.000.

We went over this already on this blog. They don't have a legal leg to stand on in this regard, but most sites probably will not "dare" or prefer to avoid more "scandal", just like the last time they did this, Mtel if I remember correctly.

(I'm taking poetic license with the quotes. ;))

Here's the link: Copyright on chess moves – shadows on the wall?

Apparently it was the Topalov - Kamsky match. But I believe they started this with the Mtel tournament.

it is a pity for a great player like Topalov to be associated with such people.
leaving the OC arguments(?) aside, the mere tone of their statements and total disrespect towards the World Champion is a scandal.
no one outside bulgaria will be happy if Topalov wins the match, because chess deserves a more decent man as World Champion.

@ bulgarian friends
no one has a reason to dislike bulgarians in general, the topalov team provokes these feelings though.
just stop for a moment to think why everyone is rooting for Anand, despite Topalov being such a fascinating chess player.
i used to be a big topalov fan, but after the toiletgate and his behavior after the match i just despise the guy like everyone else.

We don't mind travelling a long distance for some weekend tournament we play in, knowing we will be exhausted before the tournament ends. But we do mind people demanding the same from a participant in a World Championship match. So the inhospitable Bulgarian organizers and unscrupulous ministers as well as the incompetent FIDE executives can kiss our asses and lick our balls, for we want respect for our game and demand fair treatment of our worldchampion. And when not, then Anand remains our champion and Topalov can go play poker.

Did FC Barcelona ask to postpone the game against FC Inter? No, they did not, and they took buses to go to Italy. They played the game today and they lost, but they won't blame anybody for that! All the best and hope that helps!

I wonder what the reaction would be if Topalov and Danailov -due to a an unforeseeable natural disaster- were arriving late in Dehli for a WC match organized by the All Indian Association and being refused a 3-day postponement.

@SanChess

that would not happen.
because Anand is a gentleman and he would personally arrange that the postponement was granted

I wonder if the hot water will be working at Anand's hotel. Seriously, is it too late to tell the organizers to stay classy? Because they really need it.

@luzin
I really would like to believe you, but I am inclined to SanChess. And it's not Anand that would be making the decision but the Organisers and AICF.

As an interested fan, I'd be completely satisfied if, before the first game, two "simple" things happened:

1. The two sides showed some public understanding of the other part, and apologize for any disrespectful/insulting it may have produced.

2. In spite of the inconvenients, the two sides felt in absolutely no disadvantage, and also happily made that public.

If posible, that's what I wish for both of them --- Anand and Topalov --- and for all of us.
Then we'd have chess again, not vain polemics and ashgates.
Money, childishness, fear and hate: Small dosis of those in the chess kindom, please!

@SanChess, my guess would be that whether postponement actually happens or not, they (AICF or any other organizer for that matter) wouldn't resort to the sort of personal attacks the BCF camp so gleefully indulge themselves in.

Let us put the question a different way, with the same organizers, let us say, it was Topalov who got stuck stuck somewhere for some unforeseen reason - just imagine how they would approach the issue - regardless of the outcome.

There are 2 points that I can see that the organizers are peeved about from the Anand camp:
1. Someone from Anand's team occupied the rooms 1 day earlier than they thought.
2. A request from the organizers for the exact time/details of arrival, sent on Apr 15 did not get a response (when Anand was apparently in travel between Madrid-Frankfurt) - in their own words they received prompt and timely response 100% up until that time.

With these 2 points they have constructed a story and looked for all possible ways to indulge in personal attacks.

Make no mistake, in the "good old days" of chess, the champion would have had the organizer/challenger pay dearly for throwing such unwarranted trash at him.
We are however, thankfully in the era of gentlemen champions like Kramnik/Anand and thank goodness for that!

ChessBase has a report of Anand's 40 hour trip to Sofia. Interesting preparation by Anand! http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6269

Well, I Believe Anand has to forget about this "unkind" behaviour and lack of understanding of the bulgarians, otherwise this can start influencing the match itself.
He has to rest and concentrate on his chess. His preparation has already finished ...so in reality he starts in good conditions...

I am just finishing the book Bobby Fischer goes to war ... a fairly recent book about the 1972 match conditions ... well the behaviour of the danailov maffia gang isnt much compared to the one of Fischer haha

It is very interesting to read the article published in the chess base about the adventurous journey of Anand's team from Frankfurt to Sofia.

Let's hope now Anand crushes topalov and the sinister danailov and bag millions of $$ from bulgarian treasury!

Seppe,

You read a book that was written recently. There will be few recent books about Fischer with a positive angle. All of his chess life has been covered and all that is left is negative overtones of his post-1972 life. I'll have to read my copy, but I would imagine the write may be influenced by Fischers more recent pronoucements.

The adventurous journey was fascinating to read. Very well written as well I should say. Although they have made it sound nice, boy that must have been quite an ordeal. The number of people who had to come, so many bags, computers, and then the visa problems, road conditions... the list goes on.

But I like the way the article does not really whine so much about the difficulties but makes sure they are all mentioned and takes a liter tone mentioning the trilogy. But as a reader even to imagine such a journey and to arrive just 3 days before the match is crazy, not to mention the mental tension of getting there.

Very nice report about the journey to Sofia. Anand has won the batle of the public opinion by a large margin already even if he loses the match. The organizers are cornered. A PR disaster for the organizers if they dont delay game 1 for at least one day. Anand has made a perfect opening move, lets see how team Topalov reacts.

I bet someone in the car joked that Anand was Frodo, and that they were on a journey through Romania (almost an anagram of Moria) to cast the Ring of power into Mount Doom. Kramnik would be Bilbo Baggins, and I can very well picture Topalov shouting "Thief, thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it, we hates it, we hates it for ever!" and whispering in the dark "my prrrrecious!"...

@kfan "the organizers are cornered".

dont underestimate Danailov. He is capable of switching the story around to something like "Anand's team planned all this to corner the organizers. He had a Mercedes Sprinter already prebooked and was always planning on a road trip. The volcano worked in his favor and he has put forward his case as though everything was natural and is exerting pressure on us".

dosnt that sound so much like Danailov.

@Guillaume
LOL! brilliant! Dont forget - Danilov as Sarumon and Nazgul played by the BCF

I agree with Haris Srinivasan, that fellow is capable to switch the story around, just like what happened between Short-Chaperinov's shake hand issue.

Ha. ha. ha.

@ Rajeshv ["Make no mistake, in the “good old days” of chess, the champion would have had the organizer/challenger pay dearly for throwing such unwarranted trash at him.
We are however, thankfully in the era of gentlemen champions like Kramnik/Anand and thank goodness for that!]

You're very right. Fischer or Kasparov would have already given the organizers and FIDE a good round of blows by now. Anyway, I hope Anand doesn't tire of being bigger than those circumstances and defeats Topalov as comprehensibly as he should. No longer being the No. 1 player or the challenger Mr Topalov will save us all the crap centered in and around him for longer than we have preferred.

?Aingle Pack - u r too good :-)
these bulgarians doesnt understand what sportsmanship is ...
keep on harping anand will make lot of money , BCF organized this event for 3M $ etc etc .... I think this comes from pedigree .....
total lack of morality , most of the comments seems lack of understanding of the problem ...... they are hosting an prestigious event , whole world is looking at this scandal now , these people dont know how to treat your guest , specially when he is world champion .... Any other player would have refused to play in bulgaria apart from Anand, he took the challenge ..... I still dont think it is a mistake on his part ......... most of the bloggers are non indian here , and it is quiete heartening to see everyone thinks the say i do .......... it is of great satisfaction to see your idol is a true sportsperson ... whatever topalov achieves in terms of winning prizes he will never have this in his life ...................... wish u all the best vishy ..........

The Bulgarian Chess Federation, and the organisers simply showed how ill-minded they are (sorry for chosing this word). They think that everyone is like them, and feel so free to make such ugly accusations. Someone from Anand's team got the room keys already.. and this shows that they are already in Sofia!! The journey report published on Chessbase is genious from Anand's side: It shows they have spirit, morale and humor.. and it details all the facts about the journey, so the organisers really owe an excuse now.. I wonder if they have such an understanding at least. Anyway, I wish the match will start peacefully and the better one will win. Cheers.

Anand has a contractual obligation to play a match at a set time and place for which he will be very handsomely paid. A hotel room was made available for him a week before the start of the event, but how and when he travels is of course completely at his own risk and responsability.

The Dainalov-clan may not be the most sympathetic people of history, they did manage to secure funds where everybody else failed. No doubt because he will be getting a big chunk of this money Anand accepted to play in Sofia in a match organized by the Bulgarians.

Anand should now slowly count to ten, take a hot bath, a good sleep and then start playing great chess.

May the games begin!

"they did manage to secure funds where everybody else failed"

There were competing bids for the WCh match, albeit with a somewhat lower prize fund!? In any case, I don't think that providing the money gives the organizers (to avoid the term "Bulgarians") the right to (mis)behave in any way they want to ... .

@Dikke Deur: “they did manage to secure funds where everybody else failed”

The point is it was "their necessity" to get a sponsor. Topalaov is a challenger. It is always the challenger's need. Anand doesn' give a damn if nobody sponsors the match. He will be happy as a World Champ. He has earned enough (and earning enough by playing in super-tournaments) to live a lavish life.

hmmm “had alekhine been in anands shoes" .... harish, anands' team need not reach so far back into global chess chronicles to uncover examples of flagrant favoritism: “when world champions ruled (kasparov) and challengers (anand, shirov, kramnik)) were at the mercy (or whim) of the world champion". besides, most young chess players (people) probably never heard of alexander alekhine.
had the late great garry kasparov been in anands shoes...!? i'm curious to know gk"s take on this fiasco.
after all is said and done vishy will prevail. so all you anand fans keep the nerve, keep the nerve.

Fide just announced game 1 delayed one day, to be played on Saturday. Opening ceremony does not change. Very reasonable decision.

Everybody happy now?

@SanChess;
there is always something to complain about.