Topalov to play Radjabov for the world title

5/16/2006 – Surprised? Well, you shouldn't be. Last December we reported that the FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had proposed that any grandmaster with an Elo rating of over 2700 could challenge the FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov – if he could put up at least $1 million in prize money. Azerbaijani talent Teimour Radjabov can, the match is on.

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Topalov-Radjabov game for the world title agreed

The prize fund is $1.5 million.

Sofia, May 15, 2006 – The manager of the Chess World Champion Veselin Topalov, Silvio Danailov, and the Minister of Sport of Azerbaijan Azad Rahimov, agreed yesterday on a game for the world title to be held between Topalov and the Azerbaijanian Teimour Radjabov (Elo 2720). All conditions of the World Champion have been accepted and the two sides have signed a memorandum.

The Minister of Sport of Azerbaijan, Azad Rahimov, with Topalov's manager Silvio Danailov

The match will probably take place in April 2007 in Baku. The award fund will be $1.5 million, of which $1 million will be for Topalov. According to the rules of FIDE every chess player with an Elo rating over 2700 can challenge the World Champion in a game for the title. Radjabov, currently number 13 in the FIDE ranking, will be the next challenger if Topalov defends his title in the game against Kramnik in September this year in the capital of Kalmykia, Elista.

FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov

The challenger: GM Teimour Radjabov, Azerbaijan