Prague Chess Unity Plan
Prague Unity Plan – Annex A
This Annex A document explains the plan to unify the chess world.
Before discussing the unity plan, we must all realize that the current situation
in the chess world makes it virtually impossible to offer a plan that
will fully satisfy all interested parties, from FIDE, Vladimir Kramnik and Einstein
TV (ETV), Garry Kasparov, the rank and file World's grandmasters and the Chess
Commissioners Office for the First Cycle. Contracts have been signed,
sponsors have made their commitments and the calendar of chess events does not
encourage the staging of many and varied classical chess events to create a
FIDE Classical Chess Champion. The plan for the First Cycle should be economical,
efficient, marketable and reasonably acceptable to the world's chess players
and fans. While the First Cycle is being staged, a firm agreement for the Second
Cycle is agreed and its implementation and funding must begin as soon
as possible.
Currently, Vladimir Kramnik and ETV have embarked on a cycle that will stage
a tournament in Dortmund with seven top grandmasters and the German Champion
GM Christopher Lutz. The Dortmund winner is to play Vladimir Kramnik in a match
for the Classical Chess World Championship.
We all realize that four top ten players are missing from the ETV cycle: Garry
Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand, Ruslan Ponomariov and Vassily Ivanchuk.
UNITY PLAN
Although to would certainly be preferable to include all top 10 players in
the First Cycle, timing and existing commitments and contracts appear to make
that impossible. In the given circumstances and in the interest of the future
of chess we will have to accept that the unity plan is far from perfect.
The Dortmund winner will play the Classical World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik
and the present FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov will play Garry Kasparov,
the current World's number one rated player.
The two match winners will play a reunification Classical Chess World Championship
match in October/November 2003.
The unity plan brings about a single unified Classical World Chess Champion
within a one and a half year period. That opens the doors to a new World Chess
Championship cycle inclusive of all the top chess players in the world. We realize
that cooperation and support of all parties is necessary and that by setting
aside personal interests we can achieve this goal.
Garry Kasparov, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Vladimir Kramnik
Resolution of May 6, 2002 on the Unification of the Chess World
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All parties and persons present at the meeting of May 6, 2002 in Prague
have expressed their willingness to support the process of unification of
the Chess World.
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This process accepts the main principle that FIDE is the custodian and
owner of the World Chess Championship title and that there should be only
one federation – FIDE – recognized by the IOC and the world of
sports representing the Chess World
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The unification process has to lead to only one undisputed World Champion
recognized by FIDE.
- The professional chess world requires a professional management body to
be constituted on the basis of a business plan, which will be submitted by
Bessel Kok and to be discussed and agreed with the World Chess Foundation
and the FIDE Presidential Board within 90 business days after May 6, 2002.
on approval of the business plan, FIDE shall issue a license (excluding Einstein
Group pre-unification events) to this body to manage professional chess as
a profitable business.
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FIDE supports the principles of unity plan (Annex A) presented by Bessel
Kok and will cooperate to help with the acceptance of the principles on
which the unity plan is based and the implementation thereof, by all players
concerned including the FIDE World Champion, and all organizers involved.
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All parties and persons present agree to the principles put forward during
the meeting with respect to the post-unification World Championships system.
- All parties and person present at the meeting of May 6, 2002 in Prague
have agreed that they will do their utmost to achieve the unification of the
Chess World.
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