Summary of what GM Mikhail Golubev is proposing
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The essence of the conflict between Ruslan Ponomariov and FIDE are obscured
by an argument about time control and Ponomariov's privilege (or lack of
privilege) to retain the title in the event of a draw.
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There is little hope that a contract signed by Ponomariov under incredible
pressure would have anything to do with the spirit of the chess world unification.
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The Ponomariov-Kasparov match match must be arranged as a semi-final unification
match. It should be called the "FIDE classical chess world championshp"
and should not be promoted to a full world championship title if the full
reunification plans are not completed.
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In case FIDE has to revert to a world championship with FIDE time controls
and the intermediary title should be automatically abolished after the first
championship of that kind.
- If the final reunification championship with the winner of the Kramnik-Leko
match does take place, the intermediary title of classical chess world champion
should be automatically abolished.
The author admits that his suggestion seems artificial, but he reminds us that
the whole process of unification, and especially the currently match between
Ponomariov and Kasparov, may be considered artificial. If someone can offer
a better scheme I will be happy if it leads to success. In any case the balance
of interests has to be met. To enter a reunification championship cycle with
the status of the current champion diminished would lay a foundation for new
disunity in the chess world for many years ahead.
Here is the full text:
Is there any way of saving the Reunification Championship?
The
text below is part of a review of rounds 1-4 of the Corus Tournament, prepared
on the 16th January 2003. It relates to latest developments regarding the World
Championship. To a large extent it represents more than just my own personal
thoughts, is the outcome of my extensive correspondence with colleagues - grandmasters
and chess journalists from many different countries who are also concerned with
the situation.
I am publishing this extract as independent material. I have nothing against
its reproduction or distribution (without changes, with or without identification
of a source, but with an indication of author and date). Please, however, get
an agreement with me on any changes and abridgement via e-mail, my address is
as follows: gmi@europe.com.
It is very strange that the gist and hidden motive of the conflict between
Ruslan Ponomariov and FIDE, which seems obvious, is still obscured by an argument
about time control and FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov's privilege (or
lack of privilege) to retain the title in the event of a draw. I don't know
whether FIDE had hopes of «managing» the opinion of its champion
with the assistance of third parties - or if FIDE just did not succeed in showing
sufficient respect for the 18-year old World Champion. (Everything in history
happens once for the first time, and we then learn by trial and error... Never
has the World Champion been so young!), but all the signs are that from the
very beginning (since Spring 2002) Ruslan Ponomariov has, in practice, been
kept away from negotiations on reunification. The second mistake made by FIDE,
i.e. the participation of the world chess organization in preparation for the
upcoming Kasparov vs Computer match, was fatal and almost deprived the chess
world of a chance for an agreement, which has been so agonizing to reach.
The balance of the strongest players' interests was completely destroyed.
As far back as 2001 the FIDE President (at least, in his speech broadcast worldwide
by the mass media) had promised the further, 16th FIDE World Champion (later
it was Ponomariov who won this title) a match against the strongest computer
programme. The unification had the purpose consolidating the two world champions
and the player with the highest rating into one unification world championship
cycle. How was it possible not to take into account the interests of all these
chess players equally?
At the end of September Ponomariov lost his chief coach, whose health could
not withstand the stress, restriction of his pupil's rights, pressure on him
personally and the reticence and long wait for FIDE Congress.
...Of course, Garry Kasparov, the most famous chess player in the world, has
every right to the highest fee in any unofficial match. But from an ethical
point of view FIDE should not have taken part in it! It is also astonishing
that FIDE supported Kasparov's match as the FIDE President being the compatriot
of one of the opponents should have avoided any hint of double standards regarding
the participants.
It is possible to understand and excuse a lot, including the state of euphoria,
which possibly engulfed FIDE after they had managed to come to a peaceful agreement
with Garry Kasparov, their, till then, long standing opponent. And that for
some time this euphoria made FIDE forget about their own champion.
But should Ponomariov agree to further restriction of his interests if the
international federation fails to restore the status quo with respect to its
attitude to the leading chess players? Certainly, it's up to the FIDE World
Champion to decide. In any case, it is impossible not to conclude that the development
of the situation; persistence of the international federation representatives
and Ruslan Ponomariov's strong resistance, leave no chance to hope that the
contract signed by Ponomariov (under incredible pressure) based on principles
suggested by the international federation so far, will have anything to do with
the spirit of the chess world unification. Other options (such as proclamation
of Kasparov as a World Champion without any match or announcement of Kasparov's
match against another opponent) are similarly disastrous.
Is there any chance of saving the reunification championship in spite of it
all?
Since the FIDE Congress (that took place in Autumn 2002 in Bled) Ruslan Ponomariov
has been insisting on the privilege to retain the title in the event of a draw
in his match against Kasparov (It would not be a contradiction to chess traditions
and it would give Ponomariov the same privilege that Classical World Champion,
Kramnik, will have in the parallel match against Leko). In his second demand
Ponomariov stated that his match with Kasparov should be played with the new
FIDE time control, used in 2001/2002 FIDE World Championship, which brought
Ponomariov the title of the World Champion. This requirement is more than in
line with chess traditions and common sense, but it contradicts FIDE strategic
idea of coming back to the classical time control.
FIDE does not accept the demands of the World Champion, at least not all of
them, and the situation has been giving the impression of an absolute deadlock
for a long time.
At the same time there must have been a normal solution, and probably even
more than only one such solution. The solution, which will take into consideration
the reality of the current situation, without any mad approaches such as Ponomariov's
disqualification or revision of the schedule for the Kasparov vs Computer match
that is currently being fulfilled in New York.
If FIDE does not intend to just support Garry Kasparov in obtaining the Champion
title in the quickest possible time (because if it does, what is currently the
matter of worrying in the international chess community, the situation is really
hopeless and there is no normal way out), but, instead, has a purpose of a Reunification
World Championship with the classical time control, then, for instance, there
should have been no obstacles for Ruslan Ponomariov to retain the title of the
World Champion regardless of the outcome of the semi-final unification match
(this match should not have the status of FIDE World Championship) until the
final unification match has been played.
If, for example, Ponomariov is defeated by Kasparov, then Ponomariov will lose
his title only after the final unification process and return to the classical
control is completed, i.e. after the final reunification match ends - when the
new FIDE World Champion will be announced.
If it is impossible to arrange the already promised chess world reunification
final match with the classical time control (i.e. a match between winners of
the Ponomariov-Kasparov and Kramnik-Leko matches), FIDE should, in such a case,
return to Championships with the FIDE time control (yes, now this is the right
time for FIDE to take responsibility for the things that will happen after the
Ponomariov-Kasparov match, including taking into consideration the possibility
that the winner of the Kramnik-Leko match can refuse for any reason to play
in the reunification final match). ...In this case Ruslan Ponomariov will not
lose his title (with all the consequent rights and privileges) even for a single
moment regardless of the result of his match against Garry Kasparov with classical
time control. It is reasonable because Ponomariov won his Champion title with
the FIDE time control and nothing should make him lose this title unless the
transfer to classical time control is fully completed.
An opinion exists that a Ponomariov-Kasparov match without World Championship
status has no sense. But quite the opposite is the truth - a Ponomariov-Kasparov
match has no sense if it is arranged in another way than, first of all, as a
semi-final unification match, because the unprecedented decision to grant the
player with the highest rating the right to play against the World Champion
can be approved only if all existing championships are unified.
Without any doubt, the interest of the sponsors require special care in selecting
a proper title for the official match in case it is not a FIDE World Championship
(which, in my view, is the right decision). It is necessary to concentrate on
the words «unification» and «classical» (implying time
control) but not on the word «semi-final». If it is impossible to
meet sponsor interest even under such a condition, the winner of a Kasparov-Ponomariov
match can be awarded a special «intermediary» title, for instance,
FIDE Classical Chess World Champion, the title that will be absolutely independent
(!) of the current title of Ruslan Ponomariov. Both Garry Kasparov and Ruslan
Ponomariov can win this intermediary title (so, Ruslan Ponomariov will be able
to obtain both titles of World Champion at the same time).
It should be absolutely strictly stipulated that the present intermediary title
(FIDE Classical Chess World Champion) will not be given any advancement within
FIDE in case the final reunification match against the Kramnik-Leko match winner
has not taken place (for any reason) within the predetermined period of time.
In this case FIDE has to come back to a FIDE World Championships with a FIDE
time control (and the intermediary title should possibly be automatically abolished
after the first championship of that kind).
If the final reunification championship with the winner of the Kramnik-Leko
match has taken place, the intermediary title (FIDE Classical Chess World Champion)
should also be automatically abolished (and in this case this is absolutely
critical) immediately after the final reunification match has been played and
the winner (Ponomariov, Kramnik, Kasparov or Leko) has obtained the most honourable
title of FIDE World Champion, which currently belongs (and will belong until
the end of the final reunification match in accordance with all I suggest above)
to Ukrainian grandmaster Ruslan Ponomariov.
This is my suggestion that I have not discussed so far with any of the supposed
participants of the reunification championship or their official representatives.
This suggestion might seem artificial, but ... artificial is the whole process
of unification (and especially, the currently critical match between Ponomariov
and Kasparov). Unfortunately, from many points of view, it is always more «natural»
to destroy than to build.
It is my view that, after the conflict has recently reached the public stage,
now is the time for independent chess experts, those who are not indifferent
to the future of the World Championship, to express their opinions. Someone
can possibly offer a better scheme, I will be happy if such an attempt leads
to success. In any case the balance of interests has to be met. To enter a reunification
championship cycle with the status of the current champion diminished would
lay a foundation for new disunity in the chess world for many years ahead.
The article was first published in the Russian language on Ukrainian
Chess Online on January 16th, 2003 and was subsequently re-published at
www.chesspage.kiev.ua, www.bs-chess.com, www.chess-express.ru. The above translation
is by Zoya Vlassova (zoyav@yandex.ru) and Mikhail Golubev (gmi@europe.com) and
was edited by Graham Brown (www.easytorecall.com).
