Kasparov vs Ilyumzhinov: the FIDE Presidency battle begins

[Roger de Coverly]

Meanwhile in the last three weeks Kirsan's been to Phillipines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Macedonia, Serbia and Dagestan. These guys really get around.

Malaysia and Cambodia were part of the Leong list, whilst Daestan doesn't have a direct vote as like Kalmykia, it's only an internal Russian republic. Not all the meetings appear to have featured the presence of the Russian ambassador and the offer of sports scholarships.

The ECF ex-President invited him to visit England, has that been cancelled? Is the FIDE President to visit Bermuda, or can he rely on their support ?

[NickFaulks]

As I have explained before, Kasparov's sweeping, ill-informed and libellous comments in the New York Times about Bermuda's financial industry would make it impossible for the Bermuda federation to vote for him even if we thought him and his team capable of doing a good job.

[JustinHorton]

There was a ChessBase report... http://en.chessbase.com/post/kasparov-s ... in-linares

As far as I can see there's nothing there about throats. Though there is this from Rogers himself:

With a crowd of spectators gathering, including Linares officials, Kasparov, with his hand not far from my throat, launched into a 10 minute volley of abuse

I've tried to track down the original column but the links don't work. (I've had trouble locating Ian's old columns online before now. Sometimes you can do it by Googling a phrase from them, but not on this occasion.)

[Chris Rice]

Not long to go to the election at Tromso now so FIDE have announced the guidelines for making nominations for FIDE President. If you're up for it you have to get your bids in at least three months in advance of the General Assembly.

http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... dates.html

So looking at the meeting schedule I note the General Assembly starts at 9am prompt on Day 7 of the Olympiad which is 11 August 2014. Working backwards then if you want to make a bid for FIDE President you've got 11 days to do it. Therefore I suggest that if you haven't already got your people and federation supporters in place you've got no chance of making the deadline.

http://www.fide.com/images/stories/FIDE ... _Feb_5.pdf

Of course there is the usual form filling in and these are all supplied by FIDE. Note the Nomination Form for Presidential Ticket for Election. There is only space to nominate two Vice Presidents although I’m sure FIDE are pretty relaxed on that if you want to throw a few more in.

http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... -2014.html

Meanwhile on the campaign trail Kirsan, the reigning and undefeated FIDE President, flew into Myanmar. The reason I bring this up is that Roger mentioned up thread that the mention of chess scholarships had faded away on these visits. It appears they have now been replaced by subtler methods as Kirsan the Magnificent "told His Excellency the Vice President of Myanmar about the International Chess Federation and about the unique educational project Chess in Schools. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov proposed training chess educators and specialists at Russian universities."
The Vice President of Myanmar is quoted as saying that “This has created an interesting combination of chess and Buddhism,”. Well, quite.

http://fidefirst.com/?p=2011

[Chris Rice]

So Leong (pun intended) locks up the Phillipines vote....

A Letter of Thanks to National Chess Federation Phillipines

​Dear “Butch” Pichay,

Team Kasparov thanks you for your and NCFP’s endorsement of Garry for the FIDE presidency.

We agree that it is time for change. FIDE needs new ideas and energy, and Garry will lead FIDE to achieve new and exciting initiatives that will be of great benefit for chess in Asia and the Philippines. Importantly, Garry is committed to transforming FIDE into a truly global organization that listens to and supports its membership.
We are excited about what we can accomplish together. Your unwavering support for our program has helped provide Asia with much needed leadership that will bring positive change.

Best wishes,

Ignatius (on behalf of Team Kasparov)

[Chris Rice]

...and Malaysia goes to Kasparov as well (assuming Ignatius is not making this up)

An Open Letter Thanking the Malaysia Chess Community

Dear Tengku,

Garry and I were overwhelmed by the support shown by the Malaysian chess community during our visit from 23-25 April.

The strong statement of support from Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister for Youth and Sport, opening the National Age Group Championships set the tone for an outstanding visit. Further highlights of our stay included being honored with a one-of-a-kind chess set, designed and crafted by Royal Selangor Pewter and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed by the Perdana Leadership Foundation.

We congratulate the Malaysian Chess Federation led by Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib and yourself (Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin), and thank Malaysia once again for its endorsement of Team Kasparov! Together, we will bring new ideas and initiatives to the Malaysian chess community—it is indeed time for change!

Warm regards,

Ignatius Leong (on behalf of Team Kasparov)

[Roger de Coverly]

There's a new and slightly strange piece on the FIDE website.

http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... -2014.html

I'm not sure what they are going on about when they say

FIDE has noticed several coordinated and politically motivated articles on certain websites, spreading false rumours and devaluating FIDE's efforts in securing funds for the World Championship Cycle.

and

FIDE would like to remind to certain "chess journalists" who create false impressions

None of the regular English language sites have any material that could be classified in this way.

At the end of the piece, they sign off with

FIDE continues to work for the sake of world chess and not for the short-term political agenda of those opposing Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the upcoming FIDE elections.

I would have thought Kirsan's numerous visits as chronicled on the FIDE site are in aid of the short-term political agenda of those supporting Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

The Kasparov campaign is pointing out the obvious, that notwithstanding the partnership with Agon which Kirsan was very keen on, FIDE are back in crisis mode for securing organisation and a prize fund for the next scheduled World Championship match.

[Angus French]

Here, in my view, is something sensible about the lack of bids for the World Championship Match: https://www.facebook.com/emil.sutovsky/ ... 3539044681 (HT: George Mastrokoukos).

[Paolo Casaschi]

Here, in my view, is something sensible about the lack of bids for the World Championship Match: https://www.facebook.com/emil.sutovsky/ ... 3539044681 (HT: George Mastrokoukos).

The article though lacks positive suggestions.
Given the situation described, what is Sutovsky actually advocating?
Looking for another wealthy politician in an under-developed country? Go after those sponsors banned by other organizations, like tobacco companies and betting companies? Repeat of the Shirov affair and replace Anand with a more marketeable opponent such as Aronian?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

The comments to that post have some interesting suggestions. I think one idea suggested there is to let market economics decide through a real bidding process. If the WCC match turns out to be worth less than some of the main super tournaments, then so be it. There are other sports where that happens. If chess could evolve a strong professional circuit, would anyone miss the history and gravitas of the WCC? I would, but it might be better in the long run for chess.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Given the situation described, what is Sutovsky actually advocating?

He isn't advocating anything specifically; that wasn't what the post was about. He was merely pointing out the reason nobody has come forward yet.

[Chris Rice]

It was not so much the Sutovsky stuff but this article featured on Kasparov's campaign site, written by Phillip Corry a sports journalist for New Vision Media in Uganda, that FIDE were annoyed about:

Gary Kasparov slams FIDE over World Chess Championship match

May 7, 2014

Written by Phillip Corry

Former world chess champion and grand master Gary Kasparov has slammed world chess governing body FIDE for failing to get sponsorship for the World chess championship match between Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Viswanathan Anand of India which will be held on November 6 at a venue yet to be announced.

The chess legend who was in Uganda last week campaigning for the next FIDE elections slammed the world chess body in a tweet directed to the leader Kirsan Ilymuzhinov. Not surprisingly, former World champion Garry Kasparov, never a fan of FIDE or its current president Kirsan Ilymuzhinov, has criticised sharply the world governing body’s inability to find a sponsor for the Carlsen-Anand match.

“It says everything when Ilyumzhinov’s FIDE cannot find sponsorship for a World championship match with charismatic young World champion,” he tweeted.

Kasparov, who is fighting Ilyumzhinov in the FIDE elections, also tweeted that “Many Western sponsors don’t want to deal with Kirsan's FIDE and some of his usual backers are facing sanctions.”

FIDE’s deadline for receiving bids ended recently without a single bid. FIDE vice-president D.V. Sundar, however, assured that the World championship would be held as per the schedule.

“We will find a venue soon,” he said. “Sometimes, such things do happen, but FIDE is confident of staging the World title match at the proposed time.”

That FIDE has not found a venue, or a sponsor, for a World championship match involving a charismatic reigning champion like Carlsen and a popular challenger like Anand has surprised the chess world.

“It is surprising that a match featuring Carlsen hasn’t any takers at all,” said veteran Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay. “We can understand why Norway has not bid. If there is no match, Carlsen could retain his title, so it is not the headache of Norway to find a sponsor.”
“I think FIDE should have tried to market this match more, though we have to consider the fact that there never has been too much interest from business houses to sponsor World title matches,” said Thipsay. “I believe the sport is becoming even more marketable with it is being played in schools across the world.”

Thipsay, however, believes that the World championship would go ahead.

“Kirsan has been the biggest sponsor of FIDE ever since he took over as its president,” he pointed out. “If he does not find a country or sponsor for the World championship match, he would organise it himself. It is too prestigious an event for FIDE and Kirsan.”

[Sean Hewitt]

It is easy to get sponsorship at the right price. Emil has hit the nail on the head. The chess community seems to have unrealistic expectations of a world championship boxing bout sized purse for an event that will have a much smaller audience. The economics are unworkable.

[Stewart Reuben]

Sean Hewitt >It is easy to get sponsorship at the right price.<
That has not been true for chess in England for about 20 years. We are nearly back in the situation prior to 1972 when any sponsorship, however small, was very much to be welcomed. This was in the hope of other companies imitating those that had offered support.
I use the word sponsorship in the sense of a company offering money in the expectation of receiving favourable publicity.
Philanthropy in English chess has improved immensely this century.

[David Sedgwick]

http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... ckets.html

Both sides seem to have had last minute problems with their tickets.