FIDE elections: Netherlands support Karpov, and what’s going on in Argentina and Lebanon?

The Dutch Chess Federation has announced its voting for Anatoly Karpov in Khanty-Mansiysk. We bring you another update on the upcoming FIDE elections, including remarkable developments in Argentina and Lebanon. Read more

Ukrainian Chess Federation proposes to organize the 2011 Candidates matches

As a follow-up to Anatoly Karpov’s proposal to organize the 2011 Candidates matches in Kiev, the Ukrainian Chess Federation has announced a guaranteed prize fund of EUR 500,000. “The UCF is also ready to review other formats for the Candidates matches, including an increase in the number of games in the matches, and an increase of the time period between the main matches and the final match.” Read more

Hou Yifan wins 5th FIDE Women Grand Prix

Hou Yifan won the 5th FIDE Women Grand Prix in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In the final round the Chinese GM drew with her closest rival Antoaneta Stefanova from Bulgaria, who missed an excellent opportunity. Read more

FIDE elections update: Ilyumzhinov claims victory, Karpov doesn’t believe it

Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates might seem unlikely flashpoints in the current campaign for the FIDE Presidency, but in the last few days the two candidates have fought a fierce PR battle over their support. Meanwhile, Karpov has proposed moving the Candidates Matches to Kiev and Ilyumzhinov has claimed victory already. Update: something fishy is going on in the Asian region. Read more

FIDE treasurer Nigel Freeman answers follow-up questions to his interview

An interview with Nigel Freeman was published this week by different chess media, in which he talks about his achievements in four years as FIDE treasurer, and comments on allegations by the Karpov2010 campain team. Puzzled about a number of issues, we decided to send a few follow-up questions, which Mr Freeman was happy to answer as well. Read more

Karpov starts full frontal attack (UPDATE)

In the increasingly tense FIDE Presidential election, Anatoly Karpov has now chosen to launch a full frontal attack on Kirsan Ilyumzhinov with two exceptionally sharp articles. Update: another critical article was added. Read more

Danailov: ‘No match in Russia against a Russian player’

Contrary to what was expressed in an open letter last week, Veselin Topalov is, after all, willing to play Candidates Matches in Russia. However, he is “refusing to play a match with a Russian player in Russia, if that match is connected to the title struggle,” his manager Silvio Danailov said in an interview with Sport Express this week. Read more

‘Candidates Matches moved to Kazan’

According to a report in Sport Express by chess journalist Yuri Vasiliev, the FIDE Presidential Board in Tromso decided that the Candidates will be moved from Baku in Azerbaijan to Kazan in Russia. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov retains his position in the Candidates as the Azerbaijani representative.
Read more

Karpov threatens legal action

New developments on the legal front have turned the fight for FIDE presidency between challenger Anatoly Karpov and current President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov into an even tougher battle. Threatening legal action, the Karpov2010 team has demanded removal of ‘false statements’ on the FIDE website and disclosure of the documents that Ilyumzhinov has submitted for his team’s candidacy. Read more

Carlsen 23 points ahead of Topalov

The gap between Magnus Carlsen (2826) and Veselin Topalov (2803) has increased to 23 points on the July 1 FIDE rating list. The Norwegian won 13 points whereas the Bulgarian dropped 9. Third is World Champion Viswanathan Anand, now with 2800 points exactly. Wang Yue dropped from 8th to 28th. Read more

Next Page »