Chessdom has the goods. The president of the Bulgarian chess federation, Stefan Sergiev, has responded to Ilyumzhinov's ultimatum about the Kamsky-Topalov candidates match.
1. The Bulgarian Chess Federation confirms its wish to host the semi final match for the World Title in chess between Veselin Topalov and Gata Kamsky. We are extremely surprised why the financial arrangements for the match have been change without sufficient arguments. It is in the best interest of chess and the necessity for this match to take place in order to determine the contender for the world title and we guarantee that we can raise the necessary USD 250,000 for a prize fund as well as USD 50,000 FIDE charges and will cover all organizational costs related to preparing and hosting the match.
2. We guarantee best conditions for both contenders for the world title to be able to demonstrate their merits.
3. Bulgarian security authorities guarantee the full safety and security of Gata Kamsky and the members of his staff.
Bearing in mind the importance of this major chess competition, we believe that the timeline proposed for its preparation is far too short (preparation of the playing hall, accommodation, PR, the design of the logo and the advertising material etc.) and therefore we would like to propose the match to take place in Sofia from the 3rd to 15th February 2009 (opening Feb. 3, first game Feb. 4 ... tie-break in case of possible draw 4:4 and closure -- Feb. 15). We are ready to talk about details and signing the contract for preparing and hosting the match.
If you are a veteran FIDE-watcher, your eyes went immediately to the phrase "we guarantee we can raise the $$$." I.e. we don't have it yet. That's not unreasonable since FIDE just upped the bid by $100K out of nowhere. The Nov. 6 FIDE ultimatum said to respond by Nov. 14 and then the match will start as scheduled on Nov. 29. It also told the players to confirm their participation in writing by Nov. 14.
I'm glad to see things moving forward. FIDE waited far too long on the apparently spurious Lvov proposal and Ilyumzhinov was left looking ridiculous after guaranteeing the prize fund of something that didn't even exist. Indeed I wonder if the entire Lvov bid was a trick to get Ilyumzhinov to pay when they never had any money at all. A swindle attempt worthy of Marshall himself if so. Have any living and breathing potential Lvov sponsors ever been heard from, or only Chernenko?
Barring a last-second miracle sponsor elsewhere, it's Bulgaria or nothing. So the question is: on what grounds can Kamsky reasonably refuse to play? Obviously it's disagreeable to play on your opponent's home soil. But I'm not aware of any contractual veto right on venue or guarantee of a neutral location, only a preference for such. A change in dates will also require the agreement of the players.
Then there's FIDE's aforementioned June 1 press release regarding the Lvov bid: "FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov guarantees the organizer's offer by backing the event from his personal finances." Is that enough on which to sue FIDE instead of playing in Sofia? I doubt it, but Kamsky's the lawyer, not me! It does seem clear to me that long before any legal outcome between Kamsky and FIDE, Shirov will have played Topalov in Sofia as Kamsky's replacement, which would be a shame (nothing against Alexei, of course).
I love the comment that the Bulgarian security authorities will guarantee Kamsky's safety. If I remember rightly these were the same guys who assassinated someone in London in broad daylight with a poisoned umbrella. Boy would I feel safe in their hands !
Yeah, that's true. U.S. would be much safer; there the secret service never touches anyone. (Especially abroad! They killed someone in London! Why don't you guys bomb them or something?)
That is a public commitment from the Bulgarian authorities in response to Rustam´s letter, they are doing everything they can to get this match going.
They seem to understand pretty well that the moment for war is during the match and not before.
I like the fine irony of guaranteeing everything. Will Kirsan sue them if they don't come up with the money?
"Indeed I wonder if the entire Lvov bid was a trick to get Ilyumzhinov to pay when they never had any money at all."
A good thought, but how could they have known that Kirsan would make the (worthless) guarantee in the first place? Nobody expected it.
It is a good move, but I see THREE "guarantee". I think the meaning of "guarantee" should be modified in the dictionary.
"So the question is: on what grounds can Kamsky reasonably refuse to play?"
Possibly on the grounds that the winner of the Candidates was promised a title shot, and now, despite winning the Candidates, he doesn't get one if he doesn't win another match first. It would depend what the original contracts said.
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Obviously it's disagreeable to play on your opponent's home soil. But I'm not aware of any contractual veto right on venue or guarantee of a neutral location, only a preference for such.
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Didn't there use to be? I could have sworn that it was in violation of existing FIDE rules when they ordered Galliamova to play Xi Jun in China, and Galliamova forfeited rather than play there. Maybe I'm wrong.
"A change in dates will also require the agreement of the players."
A change in dates from what?
"Is that enough on which to sue FIDE instead of playing in Sofia?"
Nah, only enough to call Kirsan a liar. He didn't sign a contract guaranteeing he'd give this money. I don't think the verbal promise is enforcable without Kirsan having received some kind of consideration in exchange. Could be wrong, I'm not a lawyer.
The Topalov match was announced in advance of the World Cup Kamsky won. So I doubt there's any violation there.
The response from the Bulgarians requests a change in dates from Nov08 to Feb09.
If there were anything in any contract about veto rights on venue we'd have heard it by now.
Yes, and calling Ilyumzhinov a liar might be satisfying, but in the end it will only get you a cheap ticket to the Shirov-Topalov match in Sofia.
My theory about Lvov being a ploy is only slightly tongue-in-cheek. Kirsan was clearly asked to guarantee it by someone in order to move things along. He had no reason to do so otherwise. It would also explain the bizarrely high $750K bid. Why offer three times more than necessary? One answer: it's not going to be your money, but Ilyumzhinov's. Anyway, it's a bit out there, but from the reputation of Chernenko, perhaps not very.
Looks like Kamsky would be playing Topalov on board 1 in the Olympiad, if the 2 teams are matched up...somehow I don't expect a draw there!
Or a handshake.
Shirov-Topalov would at least be a -match-.
Kamsky's not a real chess player.
Every time you say that you look a little more ridiculous. Another four or five times you might just disappear completely. Kamsky eliminated Shirov (and Carlsen and Svidler...) in the World Cup and has a +2 score against Anand in classical chess since his return. If he's not a real chessplayer he's doing a fantastic imitation of one.
Concerning Kirsan's "guarantee," I'll take a guess and say it's unenforceable. It seems like a surety and those need to be in writing and signed by the parties. Of course, that's American law, and I have no idea what law would apply. Ukrainian? Kalmykian?
I suspect some Sports court or whatever it is regulates all those stuff; I guess it is in Lausanne?
I'd guess that legally it can't be enforced, simply because if it could, Chernenko should have an event ready...
More interesting is the point that our high leader thinks nothing of breaking his word. Or perhaps not interesting as such, but a good example when you are explaining to outsider the state of Fide.
Sounds like Kamsky is going to get strong armed into playing in Bulgaria or not at all. Mark my words, if Kamsky plays in Bulgaria and he's winning we'll all get treated to more bathroom accusations and hysterical nonsense. It will take superhuman nerves for Kamsky to play chess in the atmosphere of intimidation that will undoubtedly arise.
kirsan thus kirsan that. wtf is kok's global chess doing these days anyway?...
Chessbase.com now has posted an "open letter" from Chernenko, dated Nov. 13, stating that the money's ready and all he needs to do is see the contracts (anybody want to bet he won't see 'em until after it's too late?! Didn't think so...there goes my financial bailout).
What a zoo!
As a result of this, I propose the head of FIDE be Don King: due to enlightened self-interest, he was successful in bringing about some of the best matchups of all time, to the enjoyment of the fans. He can have Lennox Lewis & the Klitschko brothers (all chessplayers!) as enforcers.
This is confusing. Who to believe?