Only a few hours ago a representative from the Bulgarian Chess Federation has contacted the Sofia office of Chessdom. Without waiting for the logical explanation of FIDE’s decision from yesterday, the Bulgarian Chess Federation has published a protest declaration regarding the Topalov – Kamsky match.
Chessdom republishes a translated version of the Bulgarian draft (with all the run-on sentences!). With the following translation Chessdom just passes on information and does not take responsibility for the content. In the forming conflict Chessdom does not take any sides, but will continue to inform the readers on all information around it, as we have been doing for months.
On 25th of June 2007 on the presidential board meeting in Tallinn, FIDE decided that the semi final match of the world championship cycle (2008-2009) between Gata Kamsky and Veselin Topalov will take place in the second half of 2008 in Bulgaria. The same decision was confirmed at the 78th FIDE congress in Antalya in November 2007. The Bulgarian Chess Federation expressed it’s readiness to provide the necessary prize fund of 150 000 USD and to cover all additional taxes and expenses around it’s organization.
The contract for the match had to be signed in Singapore. But that did not happen. At this meeting, which took place without the presence of a Bulgarian delegate, FIDE (unknown under whose pressure and in whose interest) changed the decision from the congress and decided to seek another candidate for the organization of the match, offering a bid for increasing the prize fund. To the possible candidates was given a deadline 11th of April 2008. The term is over. There are no offers for organizing the match in the FIDE office. The information that has been published in certain media for possibilities the match to take place in USA, Lvov (Ukraine), or Elista (Russia) have nothing to do with the reality.
Instead of following the decisions taken at the 78th congress, the FIDE President Kirsan Ilymzhinov has extended the bidding period until April 23rd. With this act he one more time shows that is serves certain circles and that he is under enormous pressure which does not help chess.
The Bulgarian Chess Federation severely objects to the last decision of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and insists on FIDE giving in to outside pressure and to firmly resist any attempt for the resurrection of chaos in the world of chess, and to follow the decisions of its governing body – the Congress.
The Bulgarian Chess Federations shows its readiness to organize this match and to guarantee equal conditions to both players. No hosting of chess matches, except the Elista 2006 one, has ever affected their outcome. The optimal conditions are guarantee for opportunity for creative work. This we find as a necessary condition for every chess match and it will be guaranteed in Bulgaria!
We declare our readiness to sign the contract for with FIDE the upcoming match Topalov – Kamsky and to start preparation.
Bulgarian Chess Federation,
Sofia, April 10, 2008
Stay tuned for updates!
