

Danailov: "Many friends of mine asked me to do this.
The ECU needs some changes, people want some new energy, new blood. I was not
so convinced, but I had a lot of support, even from the Bulgarian President.
There are a lot of things you can improve in the ECU. We have to promote chess
in schools and children's chess, and we need to make the ECU a more professional
organisation."

Yazici: "I declared my candidacy five months ago. As
a team we are trying to carry the knowledge and the experience from areas in
which we have succeeded in the past. I always dream that the European Chess
Union should be an international organisation like UEFA/FIFA. I will not use
the ninth letter of the English alphabet, I will always use 'we', because it
should be teamwork."
Danailov: "I think I am a professional in chess. I came
from the lowest level in chess: I was a player, a coach, I became a manager,
and then an organiser and promoter. Everybody knows my career. The others are
politicians, who have much more experience than me, but I can offer a business
plan to make this produce, chess, work, and to produce money.

Yazici: "I don't want to compare myself with Silvio.
He is a top manager, I respect him, he is like my brother, a very good friend.
I wish him good luck – if he wins I will be very happy."
Robert Fontaine of Europe Echecs, who conducted these interviews, tells us
that Danailov has said that "Topalov will not accept or offer draws with
Vishy Anand" in their title match in April. "It will be effectively
the application of the Sofia rules."
This report will appear in the French chess magazine and news portal Europe
Echecs. It was conducted by GM Robert Fontaine, who is also providing us
with interviews with Ali Nihat Yazici and Silvio Danailov.