Author: Daniel Jackson
Date: 16:30:11 10/21/04
21.10.2004 According to the Prague Unity Agreement the winners of Kramnik- Leko and Kasparov-Kasimzhanov should play for the unified world championhsip title. Now Vladimir Kramnik is expressing serious doubts whether this can happen. Instead he proposes a fourway tournament (with Kasparov, Anand, Kasimzhanov and Ponomariv) to find his opponent in the unification match. Kramnik confirmed that if FIDE would not agree to a dialogue with him and the ACP, then the ACP will go its own way. He is ready to discuss conditions under which the unification can take place. In principle, his attitude to the idea of unification is positive. In Kramnik's opinion the development of chess should be seen in relation to corporate sponsors and civilised European countries. If FIDE does not like this, he will not work with them. Kramnik does not see prospects in the direction which is taken [by FIDE] now. On the match Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov:"Kasimdzhanov, of course, deserves the match with the great player Kasparov. But I do not understand for what reason they will play for a world championship". At this point Vasilyev interjected that Kramnik had put his signature under the contract that provided for this match. Kramnik answered: "Sorry. I put my signature under the Ponomariov-Kasparov match. And here were other conditions, which were not fulfilled." As an alternative Kramnik proposes to organise, in place of the Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov match, a tournament with the participaion of Kasparov, Kasimdzhanov, Anand and Ponomariov. The winner would play the unification match against him. http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1969 My personal opinion is, Kramnik is making excuses to avoid Kasparov as long as possible. He got this title from Kasparov, and he _owes_ Kasparov a rematch, this is really petty!
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