Open Letter
To
FIDE President
H.E. Kirsan Illyumzhinov
To
Head of the 2006 Executive Committee
Mr. Valery Bovaev
Dear Mr President, Gentlemen,
Having received innumerable published and unpublished inquiries I would like
to clarify, in the name of Vladimir Kramnik and his team, our position in the
decision taken by FIDE regarding the fifth game of the current World Championship
match.
-
As you know Vladimir Kramnik is playing the current match under protest.
Nothing has changed in our attitude, which is documented by Kramnik’s
actions around the fifth game and our statements, protests and letters:
29.09.2006: http://www.kramnik.com/eng/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=104
02.10.2006: http://www.kramnik.com/eng/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=106
04.10.2006: http://www.kramnik.com/eng/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=107
-
Consistent with this standpoint Vladimir Kramnik will be playing this
match, including a possible tiebreak, up to the last move under protest.
-
Should the decision of FIDE regarding the fifth game have any influence
on the awarding of the World Championship title, with Mr Topalov receiving
the title after being granted a free point for the unplayed game, Mr Kramnik
declares unequivocally: “I will not recognize Mr Topalov as World
Champion under these conditions, and I will take legal action against FIDE
at the end of the World Championship.”
-
The damage done to Mr Kramnik in public opinion (e.g. the slander campaign)
after the illegal release of private video images by the then FIDE Appeals
Committee or the WCC 2006 Executive Committee to the Topalov team, and
the subsequent release of these video images and private information of
Mr Kramnik in his restroom to the mass media, as well as the interruption
of the match, which broke Mr Kramnik’s concentration and playing
rhythm, will all be part of the legal action which will be initiated.
-
As a sign of good will Mr Kramnik once again requests FIDE to arrange
for game five to be played out on the board immediately after game 12.
This in our opinion is the only way to alleviate the personal, sporting,
judicial and ethical injuries that have been incurred by Mr Kramnik.
Elista, October 10, 2006
On behalf of Vladimir Kramnik
Yours sincerely
Carsten Hensel
(Manager to Vladimir Kramnik, Classical World Chess Champion)
