Open Letter
To
FIDE President
Kirsan Iljumshinov
Russian Chess Federation
Elista,
29. September 2006
Requests of Vladimir Kramnik
·
To proceed with GAME 5
Clause 3.17.1., Schedule 2 of the contract:
“All protests must be submitted in writing to the Appeals Committee not
more than 2 hours after the relevant playing session.”
The protest made by the Topalov Team were not made within this window after
game 4 (27 September 2006) but only hitted the FIDE Office and the Appeals
Committee on the restday (28 September 2006). Therefore the protests are not
even relevant and should have been rejected by the Appeals Committee
immediately.
Clause 3.18.3., Schedule 2 of the contract:
“After the
World Chess Championship Committee agrees with the Organizers on the
arrangements in respect of the tournament hall, facilities etc. etc. etc…….,
no objections from the participants shall be acceptable as long as the
conditions are in accordance with the rights of the players granted in their
agreements.”
This clause clearly underlines the statement made in today’s Open letter:
“By starting the match both participants agreed all the playing conditions de
facto and de jure and the conditions are therefore legally binding. Any
change of the playing conditions without a good reason would in our
understanding request the approval of both players which is not the case
here.”
Therefore it is clear that the Appeals Committee did a completely wrong
decision and was obviously not even aware of the Rules and Regulations. The
decision of Chief Arbiter Mr. Gijssen to forfeit game 5 was clearly based on
a wrong decision of the Appeals Committee and shall be nullified.
Mr. Kramnik is ready to continue the match and to play the 5th game (by a
leading score of 3:1) on the conditions that were accepted prior to the start
of the match.
·
Toilet
issue
The toilets connected to the restrooms shall be opened again. This request is
in accordance with clauses 3.17.1. and 3.18.3 (see above) and in the general
understanding that by starting of the match both participants agreed to all
the playing conditions. Any change of the playing conditions without a good
reason would request the approval of both players which is not the case here.
Mr. Kramnik is ready to accept even stricter controls by sealing the toilets
before and after inspections. Inspections shall be done before and after each
game.
·
Exchange
of members of the Appeals Committee
We repeat that the
Kramnik team does not trust the objectivity of the Appeals Committee anymore.
It is evident from this letter and our first Open Letter today that the
existing Appeals Committee is biased and incompetent. Mr. Kramnik strongly
insists once again that the members of the Appeals Committee will be
exchanged immediately.
·
Access to
Recordings
As Mr. Kramnik in the press conference stated he did not sign the contract
for acting in a reality show. The recordings shall be observed by the
arbiters. Neither Team Topalov nor Team Kramnik shall have access to the
recordings. Investigations shall be in the sole responsibility of the
Arbiters.
·
Requested
Apology
Last but not least Mr. Kramnik believes that Mr. Danailov should apologize to
Mr. Kramnik in writing. Remarks such as:
“If the match were to continue, the World Champion
will refrain from shaking hands with Mr. Kramnik before the games and will
not take part in joint press conferences with him.” and “Veselin Topalov is
disturbed by the suspicious behavior of his opponent Mr. Vladimir Kramnik who
takes his most significant decisions in the bathroom.” are clearly insulting.
On behalf of Vladimir Kramnik
Yours sincerely,
Carsten Hensel
(Manager to Vladimir Kramnik, Classical World Chess Champion)
