Kasparov vs Ilyumzhinov: the FIDE Presidency battle begins

[JustinHorton]

I suspect Karpov only reached his peak when he had to face up to Kasparov.

Although Karpov of course reckons that the opposite is the case, doesn't he?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well, both statements could be true.......

[Chris Rice]

Well not long now till the big day and FIDE have published the time schedules for the Presidential elections. http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... edule.html

Meanwhile chessnewsagency.com continue to publish ever more vicious anti-Kasparov articles. Its almost laughable that they are asking for public openness and transparency from Kasparov without revealing who they are. Clearly though when you start a letter with "Gary Kimovich" it kind of leads you to believe we're dealing with Russian speakers here:

"June 10, 2014

In the context of the scandal over an agreement between FIDE Presidential candidate Garry Kasparov and FIDE Secretary General Ignatius Leong, which is still receiving extensive media coverage, we at chessnewsagency.com see it as our duty to send an open public request for comments to Mr. Kasparov.

To: FIDE Presidential Candidate Garry K. Kasparov
Garry Kimovich,

We know that your campaign has become something of a disaster. We know that even people you have considered friends are turning their backs on you. We know that you are in a troubled emotional and psychological state, in other words, on the verge of a nervous breakdown. We have heard evidence of this from all who have had the honor of seeing you recently. We also know that, on top of it all, there is a threat of criminal prosecution over you and your ally from Singaporean and US law enforcement agencies.

And yet, there is always a way out! In this difficult situation, it would appear that there is no alternative but to think on what you have done, realize and admit your errors, and repent.
We are ready to help you in this – and for this, we ask you to give honest answers to a few questions from our journalists.

1. Do you feel any guilt for making a successful attempt to bribe FIDE Secretary General Ignatius Leong?

2. Did you realize that by sending the draft agreement to Mr. Leong, you were exposing yourself to criminal prosecution that you would face sooner or later?

3. Do you think it necessary to comply with US and Singaporean laws?

4. Are you prepared to admit that you are causing tremendous harm to FIDE and its reputation by your destructive activity?

5. Do you realize that the activities of your team are now associated with one word only, and that word is “corruption”?

6. Are you prepared to do something to reduce the level of corruption in your immediate circle?

7. Are you ready to offer apologies to FIDE member states to which your showed disrespect during your FIDE
Presidential campaign?

It is hard to admit one’s error, and doing this in public is three times as hard. It takes true grit and courage to do this. However, time heals everything! And we have no doubt that one day you can once again become an equal member of the friendly chess family, which will – we have no doubt about it – once again accept into its fold someone whom it knew as a great chess player.

We will publish your answers to these questions.
Sincerely yours,
chessnewsagency.com

[Chris Rice]

Mark Crowther on TWIC has tweeted that the FIDE Election Commission are investigating Kasparov and may ban his participation in the elections. Also that the World Ch Match will be in Sochi with a $3m prize fund. http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... sochi.html

[Roger de Coverly]

Mark Crowther on TWIC has tweeted that the FIDE Election Commission are investigating Kasparov and may ban his participation in the elections.

Google translate of the original Russian at
http://ruchess.ru/news/all/match_karlse ... kom_sochi/
has it as the Ethics Commission, but there is also an Electoral Commission.

I would have thought it double-edged to start investigating the ethics of FIDE election campaigns. Is it ethical to campaign for your re-election when supposedly on official business? Even more so if you appear at times to be working for or with the Russian Diplomatic Service. How about signing a draft agreement giving you and your associates a financial interest in a supposedly arms length contract to run the World Championships?

[Mike Truran]

It's almost laughable that they are asking for public openness and transparency from Kasparov without revealing who they are.

I've emailed them to ask, and will let you know how I get on. I'm not holding my breath.

[David Sedgwick]

Google translate of the original Russian at
http://ruchess.ru/news/all/match_karlse ... kom_sochi/
has it as the Ethics Commission, but there is also an Electoral Commission.

It's my understanding that it is the Ethics Commission, rather than the Electoral Commission, which is considering Ilyumzhinov's complaint.

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission is also a member of the Ethics Commission.

[Stewart Reuben]

I did not attend the meetings of the Ethics Commission in Athens. In fact, it is likely they were not open to members of the public, although I never asked.
But having dinner afterwards with them, Nigel Freeman and Zurab there was no feeling of any intended confrontation. The chairman made a joke about putting both candidates in detention.

[JustinHorton]

It's almost laughable that they are asking for public openness and transparency from Kasparov without revealing who they are.

I've emailed them to ask, and will let you know how I get on. I'm not holding my breath.

Also see

[Mike Truran]

No reply to my request for information so far.

[Chris Rice]

Well if Gary Kasparov didn't know how dirty chess politics can get he certainly found out yesterday.

Firstly, both he and long are being investigated by the FIDE Ethics commission which was announced by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov himself. I don't often agree with Mig Greengard but I support his tweet that "Somehow Kirsan neglected to mention the Ethics Commission is also investigating the deal he signed with Agon for personal profit".

Secondly, it seems to be the popular view that Putin was behind the awarding of the World Ch to Sochi and if that is correct then it could well be game over for Kasparov.

Thirdly, Mongolia came out in support of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov who made the most of it gleefully claiming 57 votes for him already and growing.

However, Kasparov has now responded with his own open letter (I've taken out some of the electioneering guff). I particularly like the comment concerning Kirsan's credit rating as “AAA”: Aliens, Assad, and Agon!:

Kasparov Letter: Matters of Reputation

During my campaign, my team and I have always focused on our ambitious plans to reform and transform FIDE. There’s no need for us to “go negative” when we have a much better team, a great platform and concrete plans for change, and real funding. I would be happy for the candidates to present their plans for the future of FIDE and chess and to let the federations decide on the merits of each plan. In fact, in Istanbul addressing the 2012 FIDE General Assembly I said the same, that the next election should be about who will do better in the future instead of arguing about the past......

....Unfortunately, Mr. Ilyumzhinov has failed to provide any plan of his own and his entire campaign consists of myths, lies, and personal and legal attacks against me and my team, so I feel obliged to respond. My reputation is my life and I will fight to protect it. We may assume the Ilyumzhinov campaign platform is four more years of the same. Four more years of doing nothing in education. Four more years of doing nothing on the internet. Four more years without title sponsors. Four more years of federations going bankrupt while officials take money out of the sport instead of bringing it in.

After 19 years, everyone knows what Mr. Ilyumzhinov is and it is surprising that he wishes to fight a negative campaign considering his own deeply troubling history. Being accused of corruption by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is like being called greedy by King Midas himself! It is almost as if he creates new scandals simply to make people forget about the old ones. But Google never forgets and the chess world shouldn’t either.

Investors evaluate reputation and quality before investing and the same thing is true with potential FIDE sponsors. They look at Mr. Ilyumzhinov’s history and rate it “AAA”: Aliens, Assad, and Agon!
I will meet Mr. Ilyumzhinov’s baseless attacks in any courtroom and he and his accomplices will join me! Let us hear their statements under oath about their mismanagement of FIDE assets and their side deals exploiting their FIDE authority for personal profit like that with Agon, which is now under investigation by the FIDE Ethics Commission after a suit filed by member federations.

Such conflicts of interest are business as usual in FIDE today, part of serving themselves and not the federations, not chess. But I would rather not waste so much time and money. Let us resolve our contest with the ballot box on August 11.

Ilyumzhinov’s attacks are directed not only at me, but especially against FIDE General Secretary Ignatius Leong. Ignatius joined my team after years of trying to work within Ilyumzhinov’s FIDE for reform and the promotion of chess in Asia. Frustrated, he was happy to join my ticket of sponsorship and transparency. For this he is being subjected to vicious personal attacks from Ilyumzhinov’s desperate gang. The chess world should be proud of his tireless work and his courage.

Various allegations have been made concerning the allocation of funds under agreements between me and Ignatius last September and October. These attempts to mischaracterize our agreements are typical propaganda, accusing an opponent of one’s own sins.

The first signed agreement clearly states that all money will go from the Kasparov Chess Foundation Asia to the ASEAN Chess Academy, not to any individuals. It also clearly states all the money will be spent on chess programs and chess development in East Asia.

The related grant agreement from KCF also specifically says that the money goes only to the organization with the explicit purpose of “encouraging the study and play of chess in East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region.”

The agreement even expressly prohibits activities that cannot be defined as charitable or educational and it prohibits transferring the money to other organizations or individuals. The created trust is under New York law with all the strict legal and financial duties for Ignatius and for our organizations. This is what transparently supporting chess development with private sponsorship looks like!

Perhaps Mr. Ilyumzhinov, Mr. Markopoulos and the rest simply don’t recognize it and assume our agreement is as dishonest and self-serving as all of theirs are. We are willing and prepared to defend the merits and correctness of our agreements in any court of law in New York or Singapore.
I would prefer to continue my global campaign tour, where I am meeting thousands of chessplayers and fans, government and chess officials, and potential sponsors of every possible kind....

....The game of chess has a great history and a great reputation. FIDE also has a great history, as an organization that represented and supported its members instead of ruling them and taking money from them as it does today. A strong FIDE is a FIDE for the federations, not the other way around. My team and I will restore FIDE’s proper role and work with the federations to give chess the bright future our game deserves.

Garry Kasparov
Macau
June 11, 2014

[Roger de Coverly]

Let us hear their statements under oath about their mismanagement of FIDE assets and their side deals exploiting their FIDE authority for personal profit like that with Agon, which is now under investigation by the FIDE Ethics Commission after a suit filed by member federations.

A reasonable hypothesis might have the Bulgarian Federation as part of this, given Danailov's previous opposition to deals with Agon. But what of the ECF? Let's not forget the almost total silence in recent months of any reports on Board actions.

[JustinHorton]

However, Kasparov has now responded with his own open letter (I've taken out some of the electioneering guff). I particularly like the comment concerning Kirsan's credit rating as “AAA”: Aliens, Assad, and Agon!:

Not Alzheimer's then?

[JustinHorton]

By the way I assume people have seen the Sepp Blatter stuff? A guy I know observed:

Blatter throws this sort of stuff out to detract from his more nefarious dealings. Never mind the Machiavellian corruption everyone, look how wacky I am.

Point worth thinking about.

[Chris Rice]

On Kevin Spraggett's site he is saying that "confidential sources confirm that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov last night registered an unofficial 50-point lead over challenger Garry Kasparov [apparently 81-31]. Rumors are circulating that Kasparov will throw in the towel and offer to take over a secondary position within Ilyumzhinov’s cabinet. More news later."

http://kevinspraggettonchess.wordpress.com/