According to Deep Junior programmer Amir Ban the organisers received
a message from Kasparov's agent on Jan 2 saying that he would not arrive for
the Jerusalem event. The reason given is this:
First International Bank of Israel (FIBI) has loaned KasparovChess money. On
Christmas eve, they filed for an injunction in a Delaware court (where KasparovChess
is incorporated) against directors of KasparovChess (including Kasparov) to
bring the web-site back online, so as to protect their interests. The judge
dismissed the motion.
Due to this, and due to threats he says Kasparov received of being sued by
FIBI, his US attorney advised him not to go now to Israel. In addition, and
also due to the press asking questions about this, he cannot concentrate for
the match.
Kasparov's agent concluded by asking that the matter be referred to Kasparov's
US attorney. We are told that on Jan 5th FIBI sent Kasparov written assurances
that they will not take legal action during his stay for the match.
See also Kasparov
cancels on Israel chess competition after "FIBI threats" in Globes
online. Here are some excerpts:
Kasparov said he had hoped to express his support for Israel at this time through
his participation in the competition. Kasparov said that after hearing appeals
and in an attempt to minimize damage to the competition, he was planning to
participate in the competition via a computer hookup from Moscow. The chess
player emphasized that he had many friends in Israel and would be happy to come
in the future once legal issues were resolved.
[According to Kasparovs American attorney, Richard A. Conn] FIBI is trying
to damage Kasparovs name as a top world chess player, in order to squeeze
him to pay a corporate obligation. He added that Kasparov Chess Online Inc.
established the Web site together with a number of partners from Israel and
the United States and that Kasparov himself was responsible for the site content,
and invested over $100,000 in the site.