World Championship 2012

[Roger de Coverly]

This has recently appeared at the FIDE site

http://www.fide.com/component/content/a ... nship-2012

The Executive Board in Halkidiki, Greece gave an option to London to organise the World Chess Championship in 2012. The Organizing Committee requested the option for Olympic Games year in London and they have until February 15th 2010 to exercise the option which must include the offer of a prize fund similar to that for the match between champion GM V. Anand and GM V. Topalov next April. If the option is not exercised then FIDE will open the bidding procedure.

I think this is an initiative outside of the ECF which is in no state to offer a prize fund or guarantee from its own resources. Those of us with long memories will recall that the BCF was in financial difficulties for several years after overspends at the 1986 match. The 1993 and 2000 matches didn't involve the BCF financially.

[Alex Holowczak]

Anand and Topalov are playing for 3,000,000 Euros in Bulgaria if they end up playing there. The new Bulgarian President has voluntarily put the money forward. Not sure I can see Brown doing the same. The ECF can't afford to offer £2,000,000 in prize money, unless some major sponsors come to the fore.

[Roger de Coverly]

The ECF can't afford to offer £2,000,000 in prize money, unless some major sponsors come to the fore.

In its current financial state, £20,000 would be about the limit, £200,000 if they were allowed to pawn the BCF's PIF.

[John Upham]

I assume that this item will be feature prominently on the ECF site...

[Eoin Devane]

Given the statement "It is also our objective to bring the world championship to London in the Olympic year 2012 " on the London Chess Classic website, I presume that whoever is backing that event financially might well be a possible financial backer for a 2012 London World Championship.

[E Michael White]

Anand and Topalov are playing for 3,000,000 Euros in Bulgaria if they end up playing there. The new Bulgarian President has voluntarily put the money forward. Not sure I can see Brown doing the same. The ECF can't afford to offer £2,000,000 in prize money, unless some major sponsors come to the fore.

Alex - Please tell me where I can get E3M for £2M ?

[Alex Holowczak]

Anand and Topalov are playing for 3,000,000 Euros in Bulgaria if they end up playing there. The new Bulgarian President has voluntarily put the money forward. Not sure I can see Brown doing the same. The ECF can't afford to offer £2,000,000 in prize money, unless some major sponsors come to the fore.

Alex - Please tell me where I can get E3M for £2M ?

Roger's post included the words

"which must include the offer of a prize fund similar to that for the match between champion GM V. Anand and GM V. Topalov next April."

While 3,000,000 Euros would be more than £2,000,000, it isn't too far off the beaten track. £2,000,000 is the absolute minimum required, I would have thought.