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First of all there was an undated letter by the Bulgarian Chess Federation in which the President states that although he is unhappy with the change of the prize fee from originally US $150,000 to US $250,000 the Federation is willing to guarantee this fee, as well as the US $50,000 FIDE charges and all organizational costs related to preparing and hosting the match.
This is the body of the letter in text form:
1. The Bulgarian Chess Federation confirms its wish to host the semi final match for the World Title in chess between Veselin Topalov and Gata Kamsky. We are extremely surprised why the financial arrangements for the match have been changed without sufficient arguments. It is in the best interest of chess and the necessity for this match to take place in order to determine the contender for the world title and we guarantee that we can raise the necessary USD 250,000 for a prize fund as well as USD 50,000 FIDE charges and will cover all organizational costs related to preparing and hosting the match.
2. We guarantee best conditions for both contenders for the world title to be able to demonstrate their merits.
3. Bulgarian security authorities guarantee the full safety and security of Gata Kamsky and the members of his staff.
Bearing in mind the importance of this major chess competition, we believe that the timeline proposed for its preparation is far too short (preparation of the playing hall, accommodation, PR, the design of the logo and the advertising material etc.) and therefore we would like to propose the match to take place in Sofia from the 3rd to 15th February 2009 (opening Feb. 3, first game Feb. 4 ... tie-break in case of possible draw 4:4 and closure -- Feb. 15). We are ready to talk about details and signing the contract for preparing and hosting the match.
Manager of GM Gata Kamsky
Date: November 13, 2008.
Re: Kamsky-Topalov match
I was asked several times from several sides to give my point of view regarding the financing of the match Kamsky-Topalov from my side. It is especially topical after FIDE's letters of November 06 and November 07 blaming me that I lied about availability of funds for the match Kamsky-Topalov in city Lviv in Ukraine.
I don’t want to blame anybody but I would like to explain why the announced amount of USD 935 thousand (including FIDE charges) was not transferred to the FIDE account. At first my sponsors and then I promised to do it, several times. I will explain now why it has not yet happened (the same situation will be with sponsors from the Bulgaria side). The money was and is available now.
The main reason is that FIDE did not present the necessary contracts beforehand: for the match Kamsky-Topalov and for match Anand-Kramnik. We asked about it dozen times. The position of FIDE, money first, is not acceptable for us. We don’t know what kind of “tricks” can be contained in these contracts. As soon as the money will be on FIDE’s account we could not change any issues, and FIDE will push on us to sign the proposed variant.
I see only one way out: conditional transfer. As soon as the contracts will be looked through, and as soon as the contract will be acceptable for everybody (Topalov, Kamsky, FIDE) and will be signed, only after that the money will be lodged to FIDE account.
I will be present at the FIDE Congress as the Manager of GM Gata Kamsky and as a sponsor also. I think we will find a solution to the main issue, and the match will definitely take place. I still hope that will happen in Ukraine (city Lviv). The time that is proposed by the Bulgarian Chess Federation is acceptable.
In the mean time I wish good health to President FIDE Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov after yesterday’s car incident. Also best regards to our counterpart: Mr. Danailov and Mr. Topalov.
Sincerely,
Oleksandr Chernenko
The following articles are in descending chronological order, i.e. the latest are at the top, the oldest at the bottom.
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Gata Kamsky: 'The time for the negotiation is over' 08.11.2008 – "The only way to fight FIDE is to expose their mistakes," writes the World Championship candidate, "and fight them in a court of law. I would respectfully request all USCF Board members to unite and find ways to make sure that justice and fairness will prevail." Kamsky accuses FIDE of providing Topalov a backdoor into the final steps of the qualification proceedings. Open letter. |
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Roustam Kamsky: 'Gata’s life could be in danger' 07.11.2008 – Yesterday we published a press release by FIDE which re-opened the bidding for the Kamsky-Topalov World Championship qualification match. Today we received a letter from Gata Kamsky's father protesting this decision and the pressure it put on the players to confirm their participation in a match for which no specific conditions are known. Open letters by Roustam Kamsky and the USCF. |
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Kamsky-Topalov match to be held in Bulgaria – maybe 06.11.2008 – The Bulgarian Chess Federation had made a $150,000 bid for this special qualifier match for the world championship, but then Gata Kamsky's manager Alexander Chernenko offered a $750,000 prize fund for it in Lvov, Ukraine. Unfortunately the bank garantees were not forthcoming, and after a final deadline FIDE has reopened the bidding procedure. Press release. |
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Bulgaria to Ilyumzhinov: we are worried 27.09.2008 – During the Bilbao Masters tournament Veselin Topalov's manager IM Silvio Danailov told journalists that there were no news regarding the Topalov vs Kamsky match. Now Stefan Sergiev, President of the Bulgarian Chess Federation has appealed to FIDE President: "Mr. Ilyumzhinov, please inform me where and when the match will take place!" Full story, now with official corrections. |
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Topalov: 'Next Year I Will Challenge the World Champion' 24.08.2008 – A few days ago former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov visited the International Alcubeirre Tournament in Spain, where he gave a simultaneous exhibition and spoke to a local newspaper about Kasparov, the Zaragoza Expo, Scarlett Johansson ("I like her more in some ways, but my thing is chess"), his chess career and chess playing computers. Heraldo interview. |
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'Topalov has not signed' – Challenger Match in doubt? 25.07.2008 – Just when we thought everything was settled for a World Championship Challengers' Match between Gata Kamsky and Veselin Topalov in Lvov, Ukraine – November 26 to December 14 – Topalov's manager Silvio Danialov says his his client has not yet signed anything. Turns out neither has Kamsky, since according to FIDE "the contract has not been finalized with the organisers". Details. |
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Alexei Shirov replies to Gata Kamsky 02.06.2008 – |
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Ilyumzhinov guarantees Topalov-Kamsky match in Lvov 01.06.2008 – After a great deal of international bickering the matter is now settled: the special Challengers Match between Gata Kamsky and Veselin Topalov will take place between November 26th and December 14th 2008 in Lvov, Ukraine. This has just been announced by FIDE, with President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov guaranteeing the organiser’s offer of US $750,000 with his personal finances. Press release. |
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Shirov's press release 29.05.2008 – |
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Breaking news: Kamsky-Topalov in Lviv, Ukraine? 11.04.2008 – We reported yesterday on FIDE's decision to extend the deadline for bids for the Kamsky-Topalov match. The Bulgarian Chess Federation protested vigorously, but today the reason for FIDE's decision is becoming clear: there is a US $750,000 bid to stage the match in Lviv, western Ukraine. This stop press story comes from Yury Vasiliev of Sport Express. First details – and doubts. |
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FIDE extends deadline for Topalov-Kamsky, Bulgarians
protest 10.04.2008 – The match between Gata Kamsky and Veselin Topalov for the right to challenge the World Champion is scheduled for the second half of 2008. The Bulgarian side offered to finance and stage the match, but Kamsky balked at playing on the territory of his opponent. Now FIDE has extended the deadline for rival bids by twelve days. The Bulgarian Chess Federation has protested sharply. |
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Challengers Match Kamsky-Topalov to be held in Bulgaria... 14.02.2008 – ...unless a country comes up with a US $250,000 bid by April 11th. FIDE has announced its decision to tentatively accept the US $150,000 bid made by the Bulgarian Chess Federation. The match is scheduled for Nov.-Dec. 2008, after the Anand-Kramnik match. Spanish Playwright Fernando Arrabal has published the entire correspondence between FIDE and Kamsky. Press release and links. |
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Khanty-Mansiysk Final: Kamsky wins, to challenge Topalov 16.12.2007 – American GM Gata Kamsky has won the FIDE World Cup. In the fourth game he was able to force a perpetual check and hold Alexei Shirov to a draw, which meant that he had won the Final with a score of 2.5:1.5 (three draws, one win). Kamsky won, did not lose a single game and performed 102 points higher than his nominal 2714 rating. Congratulations Gata! |
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Veselin Topalov and the new FIDE world championship
cycle 24.06.2007 – At the Presidential Board meeting, which is currently being held in Tallinn, Estonia, FIDE has introduced a new Grand Prix series and a new world championship cycle. With a high-ranking Bulgarian delegation presenting a case for Veselin Topalov to enter the world championship FIDE made some special rules to govern the 2007-2009 stage. We have tried to decipher the new system. |
