Vladimir Kramnik: We will sue FIDE!

10/10/2006 – After being forfeited on game five Vladimir Kramnik reluctantly agreed to play game six and thus allow the World Championship match to continue. But will he accept the result, and play a tie-break if the match ends 6-6 according to FIDE counting (6-5 according to Kramnik's)? In a press release he iterates his immediate and postgame plans and intentions.

Boris Spassky recovering from minor stroke

10/9/2006 – During a lecture tour in San Francisco the legendary tenth world champion Boris Spassky, 69, suffered a mild stroke. He was taken to hospital where he is recovering completely, with no loss of physical or mental abilities. Before the incident Spassky gave a simul (+20 =5) and spoke about the current world championship crisis, comparing it to the 1972 problems with Fischer.

Topalov: My manager Danailov did an extraordinary job

10/9/2006 – The Bulgarian daily TRUD has published a candid interview with Veselin Topalov. In it the national hero praises the work of his manager Silvio Danailov, who "won all legal battles", criticises Kramnik for never adhering to any principles, and the ChessBase newspage as a shame for a developed European state. Hot stuff.

Vladimir Kramnik: I deserved this victory

10/9/2006 – The classical chess world champion was satisfied, the FIDE champion despondent. Vladimir Kramnik answered questions with enthusiasm at the press conference after game ten, Veselin Topalov was subdued. Interesting: what Kramnik felt when he saw 24…f6 and why Topalov played this game-loser. Transcript.

Elista 2006: Kramnik wins game ten, score now 5:5

10/8/2006 – Garry Kasparov, watching the game on Playchess and analysing 24...Bxb5!?, took all of fifty milliseconds to react to Topalov's 24...f6?? "But doesn't that lose? Of course it loses!" Right he was, the game, which had brought Kramnik advantages out of the opening, was now a clear win. With two games to go the score is now 5:5. Report and analysis.

You want a war? How about Karpov-Korchnoi 1978?

10/8/2006 – If you think the Kramnik-Topalov match is acrimonious, you should look at the 1978 match between Anatoly Karpov and Soviet defector Viktor Korchnoi. They battled over yogurt, visitors in the audience, but also viciously on the chessboard. In his Monday night Playchess lecture Dennis Monokroussos looks at game 17.

Makropoulos on the World Championship Crisis

10/7/2006 – He was in the middle of the events that led to the interruption of the World Championship, the forfeiting of game five, protests of both players, and the resumption of play. But the Sept. 29 report of FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos did not receive the attention it deserved. Here's an audio excerpt from the press conference and the full Makropoulos statement.

Korchnoi: 'I would have walked out!'

10/7/2006 – Actually, if we were sensationalist our headline would have been: Viktor Korchnoi: "I agree with Karpov!" For once the great chess veteran of three world championship matches joins his arch-opponent – in these matches and life in general – in supporting Kramnik in the World Championship crisis. Viktor is also worried about chess being dragged into the toilet. How will we find sponsors?

Elista 2006: Topalov wins game nine

10/7/2006 – The ninth game of the World Chamionship match between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik was won by FIDE Champion Veselin Topalov. The Bulgarian now leads by 5:4 points, with three games left. A recordbreaking 8,500 visitors logged in simultaneously on the Playchess server, with GM Yasser Seirawan providing live audio commentary. Report and analysis.

The role of the Appeals Committee

10/6/2006 – In his "Layman's Guide to Match Officials" Yasser Seirawan restricted the duties of the Appeals Committee to appeals concerning a decision made my the Chief Arbiter of a match. But their powers and duties go further, says GM Bartlomiej Macieja, who had a close encounter with the Appeals Committee during the FIDE world championship in Las Vegas in 1999. Here is his harrowing tale.

Open letter by GMs Bareev and Svidler

10/5/2006 – With the crisis of the World Championship in full bloom, two friends, colleagues and former seconds of Vladimir Kramnik flew down to Elista to provide moral support. Grandmasters Evgeny Bareev and Peter Svidler spent two days with Kramnik, trying to get his spirits up. Now, back home again, they call for consequences – and sackings.

Elista Express: Topalov wins game eight with black

10/5/2006 – The eighth game between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov, a Semi-Slav Meran, ended after four and a half hours and 52 moves with the first over-the-board victory for FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov in this match. The official score is now 4:4, with four games to go. Full report with commentary by Mihail Marin and a remarkable Kramnik interview after game seven.

Silvio Danailov accuses Kramnik of using Fritz 9

10/4/2006 – "After very detailed analysis of all games of the match," the manager of Veselin Topalov writes this morning (15 minutes before the start of game seven), "we would like to present to your attention coincidence statistics of the moves of GM Kramnik with recommendations of chess program Fritz 9." What's going on?

Elista 2006: Game seven drawn, Kramnik leads 4:3

10/4/2006 – Topalov could not get any significant advantage from his third white gamein a row, a Queen's Gambit Accepted. He sacrificed two pawns in order to get some activity, but his initiative was just sufficient to maintain the balance even. The game ended after 60 move in a draw by repetition. Full report.

Hensel: 'They may try to plant a device in Kramnik's room'

10/4/2006 – After game seven we received a letter written by Kramnik' manager Carsten Hensel to the head of the World Championship Committee (the correct addressee!) expressing concern that a member of the Topalov team might try to place an electronic device in Kramnik's room to provoke a new scandal. The Elista War continues.

A Layman's Guide to Match Officials

10/4/2006 – The crisis in Elista was sparked off by a protest by Topalov, a decision of the Appeals Committee, its rejection by Kramnik and the subsequent forfeit of game five. But was the Appeals Committee empowered to decide on the matter, or take receipt of the protest in the first place? An experienced grandmaster explains the situation comprehensively in this important document.

Elista 2006: the latest before game seven

10/4/2006 – Everything in Elista is set for game seven. Well, almost everything. A number of issues are still festering, and it is certainly not smooth sailing after the difficult compromise achieved by FIDE President Ilyumzhinov on October 1st. Game seven preview.

Andrew Martin – a full programme

10/3/2006 – Yakovich-Shabalov from the Isle of Man; Christiansen at his most aggressive; A. Rodriguez fearless in the fantasy Variation of the Caro Kann; four new books from Everyman; the obligatory prize puzzle. Naturally this week's Radio Show by Playchess lecturer Andrew Martin contains the thematic toilet story.

FIDE Ratings October 2006 – Topalov leads

10/3/2006 – Both Topalov and Anand did not play any rated games in the last three months – their ratings and rankings remain the same. Kramnik and Svidler now share 3–4, followed by Morozevich and Ivanchuk. Aronian lost points and rankings, Leko won three points but dropped two places. Full lists.

Kasparov on Elista in the Wall Street Journal

10/3/2006 – Garry Kasparov is the last man to hold the title of unified world chess champion. A contributing editor to the Wall Street Journal, his latest editorial comments on the world championship scandal in Elista and the events leading up to it. Was the meltdown after game four inevitable? After the article we bring you an exclusive interview.

GMs support Vladimir Kramnik

10/3/2006 – During the turmoil surrounding the World Championship in Elista we have been receiving record numbers of letters – over 300 from our readers yesterday alone. These are being edited and formatted, but in the meantime we bring you a few expressing support for their colleague, written by well-known grandmasters.

Elista 2006: Game six drawn in three hours

10/3/2006 – The good news: Topalov and Kramnik shook hands before the game! Topalov, determined to get his first over-the-board win in this match, played very aggressively once again, but Kramnik cold-bloodly held. We bring you a video link in Dutch TV, the revised shedule of the match and analysis by GM Mihail Marin.

Karpov: I wouldn't have continued the match

10/2/2006 – The twelfth world champion and five-time opponent of Garry Kasparov has great experience in world championship matches. And in Appeals Committees. In the Russian chess magazine "64" Anatoly Karpov commented on the situation on the Kramnik-Topalov match. Interview.

Botvinnik's brilliancy against Riumen's Worrall

10/2/2006 – Get that? You will at the end of Dennis Monokroussos' Monday night Playchess lecture, which is devoted to the young Botvinnik, who in 1935 tied for first in the Moscow tournament, ahead of Lasker and Capablanca. His most brilliant game was against Nikolay Riumin, which Dennis will discuss. Be there and enjoy.