In seiner Presserklärung zu Kasparows Ablehnung
der Einladung zum BGN Kandidatenturnier gibt Manager Owen Williams mehrere
Gründe an. Zum Einen haben die Dortmunder Veranstalter laut Kasparov in der
Frage des legitimen Weltmeisters über Jahre immer die Position der FIDE und
nicht seine unterstützt. Zum Anderen seien von BGN (BrainGamesNetwork) die
Frage der finanziellen Konditionen für einen WM-Kampf 2002 bisher nicht
erläutert worden. Schließlich und endlich sieht Kasparov außerdem nur sich
selbst, den Weltranglistenersten, als legitimen Herausforderer von Kramnik,
hält also ein Kandidatenturnier für überflüssig.
Die Presseerklärung von Kasparovs Manager
Owen Williams im Original:
BGN/Dortmund Event
September 6, 2001
Brain Games Network
Attn: David Massey Via: maz451@aol.com
Dear David:
Garry Kasparov has little difficulty in turning
down the BGN/Dortmund invitation.
BGN had an opportunity to offer him conditions in
Nov. 2000 and did not bother to meet the deadline.
In 1995 the Dortmund Tournament organizers caused
a great deal of harm to Kasparov when he was busy organizing his title defense
against Anand. For years they stood firmly at the side of the FIDE position and
acknowledged only Karpov as the World Champion. This despite Kasparov defeating
Karpov for the title many times. This duplicity on the part of Dortmund raises a
fascinating question: If Dortmund did not recognize Kasparov as the World
Champion, how do they think Kramnik won the title?
The offer from BGN paid absolutely no attention
to the financial terms discussed in 2000 between BGN and Kasparov. Worse still,
the financial conditions for the title match in October 2002 are non-existent
which is further evidence that every effort is being made to ensure that Kramnik
does not have to face the world’s number one ranked player!
As we analyze the BGN offer, it is transparently
calculated to obtain a quasi-legitimate challenger for Kramnik. Somebody ranked
between # 4 and about #12 in the world. Let’s be blunt: no effort is being
made to find the top challenger and this will haunt Kramnik as he searches for
future respect.
Compare Kramnik's not-so-subtle avoidance of the
top challenger with the actions of Garry Kasparov from 1985 to 2000 when he
consistently played the strongest and most dangerous opponents. Three times
against Karpov when nobody doubted that he was the best challenger. Then Nigel
Short in 1993 after Short had beaten Karpov and won the right to play Kasparov.
Then followed Anand, who nobody denied was the top challenger.
Then came Kramnik who was offered the challenge
after #2 Anand turned down the opportunity for the relatively safe haven of
FIDE. Kramnik then moved past Anand to the #2 ranking and was definitely the
most dangerous opponent for Kasparov and the only top ten player in the world
with an equal score against the world champion.
Kasparov could have offered the 2000 match to
Shirov after he had beaten Kramnik in the qualifying match and who was still
"the chess public’s popular choice." With a 9-0 winning record over
Shirov, a lesser man than Kasparov would have chosen a safe match against
Shirov. Kasparov, as a true Champion, did not take the easy path! This is not so
in the case of the Kramnik-Dortmund "setup."
Now, the reality of this year is that Kasparov
has won Wijk-aan-Zee 2001, won Linares 2001, won Astana 2001 with a last round
classical chess victory over Kramnik. In the process he has increased his margin
over Kramnik for the world’s number one ranking. In light of the foregoing for
BGN and Kramnik not to voluntarily offer Kasparov a rematch is reprehensible and
makes a mockery of a true World Championship, whose aim, after all is to find
the World Champion.
Sincerely,
Owen Williams Worldwide Agent for Garry Kasparov
