The Hindu : Sport : Vladimir Kramnik to stay away from FIDE World championship

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 30, 2005

Sport

Sport

Vladimir Kramnik to stay away from FIDE World championship

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Classical World champion Vladimir Kramnik has decided to stay away from the planned eight-player FIDE World Chess Championship to be held in San Luis, Argentina, in September-October this year.

Kramnik, who retained the title after emerging undefeated in the challenge-round against Peter Leko last year, has, however, expressed his willingness to complete the reunification process to find the undisputed champion of the chess world.

In a press release, Kramnik said, "In the agreement that was signed in Prague by, among others, FIDE and myself, it was clearly stated that the Classical World Champion, eventually determined by my final match with Peter Leko, was qualified to play a unification match against the winner of the final match for the FIDE World Championship.

"I fail to see any reason why the cancellation of the final FIDE match should influence my position on the agreed unification process. It is therefore incomprehensible that FIDE included me in the list of possible participants, a decision clearly in conflict with our existing agreement. Just for the record: FIDE did not even inform me before doing so.

Still ready

"Nevertheless, I am still ready to complete the unification process in the spirit of the Prague agreement.

"Therefore, organising a match between the winner of the FIDE event in Argentina and myself could be a solution to break the deadlock.

"I want to make it clear that I would be ready to participate in such a unification match.

"In the event that FIDE will not demonstrate any willingness to follow the agreed process of unification, I will start discussing proposals with interested partners, in order to defend my title in accordance with the classical line of the World Chess Championship."

Earlier this month, FIDE had announced an eight-player field, including now-retired World No. 1 Garry Kasparov and second-ranked Viswanathan Anand to play on a double round-robin basis.

On April 21, FIDE confirmed San Luis as the venue and announced a prize-fund of $ 1 million for the event.

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