
PRESS RELEASE, 28 January 2007
The FIDE Presidential Board, meeting 27-28 January 2007 in Antalya, Turkey,
issued the following statement:
FIDE received a bank guarantee dated January 19th 2007, on behalf of GM Veselin
Topalov for a challenge match against the World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik.
Whilst the guarantee meets the conditions of the Handbook as per regulation,
FIDE has reviewed the possibility of organizing this match as granted by the
aforesaid regulation.
In order to organize this match within regulation, and the fact that a challenge
match must be concluded no later than six months before the start of the next
World Championship Tournament in Mexico City 12th September, this year, the
match would have to start no later than 23rd February 2007.
The challenger additionally would need to deposit the required sum of money
involved, into the FIDE bank account within 45 days before the commencement
of the match in accordance with the regulations which has already passed.
A match for the World Chess Champion title is one of the most prestigious events
in the FIDE calendar, and needs careful preparations from everybody involved.
In the current situation there will not be sufficient time for proper inspections
and negotiations with both players and the organizers. The players will not
have enough time to prepare and can only play after having cancelled other contractual
obligations.
Even though it might be possible from a pure technical point of view to stage
a match before this date, FIDE cannot accept a match to take place under these
circumstances.
However, notwithstanding the six month provision in the regulations, if both
players can agree to a mutually acceptable date and conditions, then FIDE will
assist in the organization of this match.
For further information,
FIDE Public Relations Director Dr. Peter Rajcsanyi
FIDE Legal Director Morten Sand