Elista: Kein Schach heute

29 September 2006
To the President of FIDE
Mr K Illumzhinov
To the Organisation Committee of the match for the world chess championship V Kramnik – V Topalov,
Elista

Declaration of the Russian Chess Federation

The Russian Chess Federation expresses its regret that Grandmaster Topalov (Bulgaria), in his match for the world championship against Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), should have resorted to incorrect methods of behaviour. Such events should be decided in an honest struggle at the chessboard, and not by poring over video footage of Kramnik in his rest room, and counting how many times he visits the toilet. The protest by the Topalov team reflects the weakness of their playing position in the match.

The Russian Chess Federations demands:

1. The cancellation, as being unethical, of the decision of the Appeals Committee to allow the video footage of the players’ rest rooms, taken by the judges, to be made available to the members of the two players teams. This is because we believe such action is a breach of the privacy of the players, and also allows the opposing team to see how the player thinks and reacts to his opponent’s moves.
2. The cancellation of the decision of the Appeals Committee to close the individual toilets attached to the players’ rest rooms.
3. The replacement of the members of the Appeals Committee.

That the match Kramnik-Topalov be continued, with the score 3-1 in favour of Kramnik, under the exact conditions in which the match was started. The Russian Chess Federation hopes that the President of FIDE and the Organisation Committee will act wisely and not allow the Topalov team to terminate a match, which has begun badly for them.

The Russian Chess Federation

Translation: Steve Giddins

Bulgarian Chess Federation Supports Veselin Topalov

30 September 2006

We have learnt that the Bulgarian Chess Federation is firmly supporting the demands of the FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov, "so the fight for the title could continue in normal conditions that exclude all doubts for getting additional help during the games.” This is part of the declaration published in the official website of the Bulgarian Chess Federation.

“We support the decisions of the Appeal Committee of the match and insist all parties to abide to them. All demands for change of members of the committee are an attempt to discredit the International Chess Federation and its president. The chess should be played on the stage, at the TV cameras and in front of the spectators," the declaration says.