Russian Chess Fed Supports Kirsan FIDE Presidency Candidature

On December the 17th 2013 an absentee vote of the Supervisory Board of the Russian Chess Federation on the nomination to the post of FIDE President took place. By a majority vote it was decided to support the candidacy of the incumbent FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. -- FIDE

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* Kasparov for a Powerful New Image to Chess Minus Kirsan
* Ilyumzhinov on Kasparov Move to Contest FIDE Elections 2014
* FIDE Elections: Kasparov's Team

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Ilyumzhinov on Kasparov Move to Contest FIDE Elections 2014

It's just the beginning and this topic is going to be getting hotter by the day. Stay tuned for selective updates from our side. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has commented on former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov declaring his candidacy for 2014 FIDE presidential elections. Here are the comments:  via www.chess-news.ru.

"I have been getting the majority of votes since 1995," ITAR-TASS quotes Ilyumzhinov. "If talking of 2010 elections in which my rival was Anatoly Karpov, who was actually actively supported by Garry Kasparov, I had even double advantage. The same happened in 2006. There are no doubts that the very same thing will happen next year too. Well, maybe someone else will present his candidature today... Isn't it nice that sooner or earlier all world champions are trying themselves as presidential candidatures? Let's suggest them to get together - 12th, 13th, 14th champion - and run for the post together."

"I had several tasks when I was nominated in 1995: to save FIDE from bankruptcy, to unite chess world, to popularize chess as a sport, to make chess recognized by the IOC. Those tasks were accomplished. Now we only need to have chess at the winter Olympics. Chess in Schools project is also developing. So, there's still a lot of work to do, that's why I agreed to nominate myself for one more term. This is also my decision.

As regards to Kasparov's nomination - he is always much into PR. Once he wants to be Russia president, then he tries to be the leader of opposition. It's clear that now he needs FIDE president post for solving his own political tasks. It's doubtful that chess players will support him. We have a different motto - "Gens una sumus" - "We are one people." Well, in general it's pleasant for me to see the return of the prodigal son, it seems like my work for chess development for 18 years wasn't done in vain."

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Kasparov Explains Why his "Algorithm Will Work for Change in FIDE"

Former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov announced his candidacy for the FIDE election 2014 in Tallinn, Estonia yesterday. You can keep track of Kasparov's team and campaign at the official website: http://kasparov2014.com/. Here's an exclusive Chess.com video interview (must-watch at that) right after the Kasparov candidacy announcement.  

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Breaking: Kasparov to Contest FIDE Presidency Election 2014

Former World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov had, in June this year, said in an interview to Swiss newspaper 'Nasha Gazeta' that he thought Garry Kasparov would run for FIDE presidency in 2014. 

A few minutes back, Kasparov formally made the announcement at the 84th 84th FIDE Congress in Tallinn. The news is already all over the Internet and we first picked it up via the Chess-News.ru twitter. The current President of FIDE Kirsan Ilymzhinov had already announced his candidature earlier in the morning session of the Congress. Ilyumzhinov also announced that he would be further putting in one million euros for the Chess In School program. 

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has been President of FIDE since 1995. He won a second time in 2010 after defeating Anatoly Karpov with 95 votes to 55. Later, Karpov and Ilyumzhinov had supposedly buried their "differences".  

Garry Kasparov became the World Chess Champion in 1985 after beating Anatoly Karpov. Kasparov announced his ticket on Monday and his team as including Rex Sinquefield, Ignatius Leong, Afrika Msimang, Jan Callewaert and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Hamed.

Karpov had, in June, said: "I... (hesitates). You know, I am so fed up with Ilyumzhinov's team that... I have a good relationship personally with Ilyumzhinov, but his team is totally corrupt, absolutely useless in managing chess. They, however, set up a system that struck on the image of the International Olympic Committee in Salt Lake City, as well as on the image of different federations. I think exactly this system has reached its peak in chess. Unfortunately, this isn't actively discussed and covered, but something has to be done with the current situation - apart from making useless decisions, they also intervene with chess rules, which is intolerable."

In another question by 'Nasha Gazeta' on whether Kasparov could count on support in Russia, Karpov had said, "No, he can't. Moreover, the Russian Chess Federation will work against him, this is obvious. When I was running for FIDE presidency, against Ilyumzhinov, the federation first voted for me. Russia supported me and then "changed" the position of federation under wild pressure."

The FIDE Chess game begins and we thought all the excitement would end with the Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai.  

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FIDE Chess Online Arena Launched

FIDE has just launched the online chess playing arena in its beta version. Here is the announcement by FIDE president:

I am proud to announce today's launch of the limited test version of FIDE online arena, FIDE's official Internet playing platform developed in co-operation with CNC. In October 2013, after the Executive Board meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, the fully operational version of FIDE online arena will be in service and available all over the world.

FIDE firmly believes that online chess offers enormous opportunities for millions of chess lovers who are unable to regularly participate in over-the-board events for a variety of reasons: professional and family commitments, problems reaching tournaments and other difficulties, etc.

Now FIDE makes the virtual real with an online arena that allows players to compete in top class tournaments with official FIDE ratings. The attractiveness and ease of online chess will also draw millions of new players - in particular the young. FIDE online arena will be an important step in achieving my goal of '1 billion chess players' throughout the world.

As you know, there are many chess playing platforms. However, FIDE online arena has a unique feature that completely sets it apart: a highly sophisticated chess anti-cheating system, AceGuard. Until now, it has been impossible to award official ratings for online chess because of the difficulty in preventing cheating. Now AceGuard will be an invaluable tool in Fide's fight against cheaters and we would like to praise the PremiumChess company for developing this revolutionary technology and to congratulate CNC for bringing this service to FIDE.

When the full version of FIDE online arena starts in October, every move of every game played by full arena members will be monitored and extensively analyzed by the anti-cheating system and a special team of experts, creating a fair playing venue for all. While it is not possible to prevent some players from cheating, this constant highly detailed monitoring guarantees that they can be successfully identified and appropriate action taken. Every member's playing history is evaluated with a Fairness Index rating, allowing you to see quickly if an opponent is reliable or not.

In addition, FIDE online arena offers a complete chess experience online: challenge games and tournaments, master challenge matches and simuls, free master lessons and lectures, full statistical analysis, broadcasts of major FIDE events, chat, game files, multi-lingual interface and much more - all from the comfort of your home or anywhere elsewhere you happen to be.

So now you can enjoy all the features that FIDE online arena has to offer and very soon play in official FIDE events night or day, seven days a week.

Enjoy it! http://www.arena.myfide.net

Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov

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Anand vs Carlsen: Fide says Chennai

NEW DELHI, MAY 5: Viswanathan Anand will defend his World Chess Championship title against world number one Magnus Carlsen in his home city as FIDE today chose Chennai as the venue for the prestigious match. Even as it has been reported that Carlsen was not keen to play in Chennai and instead preferred Paris as the venue, the FIDE Presidential Board confirmed Chennai as the venue during a meeting at Baku, Azerbaijan today.

The match between the Indian and his Norwegian opponent will be played from November 6 to 26. “The agreement was signed today at Baku by Bharat Singh, Hony Secretary All India Chess Federation and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov,” a press release stated. Anand had defeated Boris Gelfand of Israel to retain his title in 2012. (PTI)

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World Championship 2013: Paris Offer

The French Chess Federation has approached Fide to host the World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen in November, 2013. The French Chess Federation website states: 

"FFE, in collaboration with the City of Paris, on behalf of a group of private companies, is a candidate for organising the World Chess Championship 2013. The presidential office of FIDE, which will meet this weekend, should address the problem of opening a tender for this match. In fact, after the Match was given to Chennai (India), Carlsen and the Norwegian Chess Federation have officially requested that the game takes place in a neutral country."

The Federation site offers for download the following letter from the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE president and the original press release by Philippe Mouttou. 

Press Release
Paris is ready to organize Anand-Carlsen World Chess Championship


Paris – 3rd of May 2013. The city of Paris, France, is ready to host the World Chess Championship Match between GM Viswanathan Anand, from India, and GM Magnus Carlsen, from Norway.

In a letter to FIDE, the Mayor of Paris Mr. Bertrand Delanoë, expresses full support to the French Chess Federation in its aim to organize the final match to take place in November 2013.

The Paris Mayor states in his letter to FIDE that “the city of Paris welcomes the French Chess Federation initiative” to organize the Anand-Carlsen Chess World Championship, and “is happy to give its whole hearted support to the French Chess Federation to successfully carry out this project.” 

The offer sent to FIDE includes a € 2.65 Million- Prize fund and a € 800 000-contribution to FIDE in accordance to FIDE regulations. It also offers a specific budget allocated for media coverage.

“Paris is the city where FIDE was born and ever since, chess has been part of our cultural heritage. Our Capital is looking forward to organize and welcome in the best possible conditions this Championship” concludes Mayor Delanoë’s letter to FIDE President Kirsan Ilymzhinov. 

FIDE, the World Chess Federation, was founded in Paris in 1924. A world Chess Championship in Paris would be a prelude to FIDE’s 90th anniversary.

Philippe Mouttou 
WWC in Paris

-----------------------
Dear Mr President,


I have learnt with great interest of the French Chess Federation project to organize in Paris the upcoming Chess World Championship in later in November this year. This Championship is very exciting with the match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.

The city of Paris welcomes this initiative and I am happy to give my whole hearted support to the French Chess Federation to successfully carry out this project.

Paris is the city where FIDE was born and ever since, chess has been part of our cultural heritage. Our Capital is looking forward to organize and welcome in the best possible conditions this Championship that will enable Paris to profile itself internationally.

Yours sincerely,
Bertrand DELANOE

Monsieur Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV
President de la Federation Intemationale d'Echecs
9 Syggrou avenue
11743 ATHENES GREECE

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Kasparov Clarifies Remarks About Fide Presidency Candidature

Legendary 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov has written tweeted and posted on his Facebook page a clarification to the recent interview given to to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that he is firmly committed to push FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov out of office. (The interview was given to Stefan Löffler in Moscow on the sidelines of the Anand-Gelfand World Chess Championship, 2012. (You can read the previous post on the comment Breaking Chess News: Kasparov Likely to run for Fide Presidency 2014)

Meanwhile, Kasparov has said, "To clarify the recent news reports, it is true that I think it is essential to do whatever is necessary to remove Kirsan Ilyumzhinov from the International Chess Federation (FIDE). And if that means running for FIDE president myself in 2014, it is possible but not the real priority. What is Important is taking FIDE and Chess back from Ilyumzhinov, who brings disgrace after disgrace to the sport by meeting with murderous dictators while ignoring the opportunities to bring chess INTO education systems around the world. I will post a long article on my thoughts about the future of chess and FIDE after this weekend's 10th anniversary event for the Kasparov Chess Foundation in Bryant Park in New York City. It is from 10am to 2pm on June 16 with a kids' tournament and more. If you can attend I will see you there!" Kasparov also tweeted similarly.

Also Read: Kasparov Chess Foundation Celebrating 10th Anniversary on June 16 in NYC With Chess Festival
 
World Chess Fed: Karpov Says Major Leadership Changes Required

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Breaking Chess News: Kasparov Committed to Ousting Fide Chief Ilyumzhinov

The legendary
Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov has confirmed to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (news not online yet) that he is firmly committed to push FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov out of office. (The interview was given to Stefan Löffler in Moscow.) The legendary world chess champion said he is likely running himself for Presidency at the next FIDE elections held in Tromsö, Norway, in August 2014, or otherwise, that he will support another candidate. He cites as his main motive the damage done to chess by Ilyumzhinov´s visits to dictators Saddam Hussein, Muammar al Gaddafi and, most recently in late April, to Bashar al Assad.

Having supported Bessel Kok in 2006 and, more strongly, Anatoly Karpov in 2010, Kasparov claims to have learned and is already working hard on a long-term campaign. He considers his worldwide efforts to bring chess into schools as a major part of his strategy and as a lead for FIDE to not just focus on chess as a sport but also to establish chess in the education system.
The story is in today´s (June 14) print edition, but not online (yet).

Link to the chess news break would be updated soon. (Earlier press conference comments in Moscow by Garry Kasparov on the sidelines of the World Chess Championship 2012.)

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FIDE President Congratulates Alexandra Kosteniuk, Valentina Gunina at Special Function in Moscow

A special ceremonial felicitation ceremony was held in Moscow on May 8 to congratulate Women's World Blitz Chess Champion Valentina Gunina and Women's World Rapid Chess Vice-Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. Chess Queen Kosteniuk missed the gold in the Rapid by half a point and a medal, also by half a point, in the Blitz. FIDE president, officials of the Moscow Sports Committee and Moscow Chess Federation felicitated both the talented chess players. The Women's World Rapid and Blitz Championships held in Batumi (Georgia) on June 1-5. Valentina Gunina has recently grown as a strong chess player with creative chess ideas. 

The 12th Women's World Chess Champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk, has always been known for her non-compromising, very attacking, and entertaining chess games since she was a kid. Kosteniuk's Chess Blog is also the #1 chess blog in the United States and her Chess Queen blog is her personal 'diary' that gives fans an insight into the life of a world chess champion.

Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Moscow Chess Federation president Vladimir Palikhata and first deputy chairman of Moscow Sports Committee Nikolay Gulyaev congratulated the chess players.

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Istanbul Chess Olympiad: Turkish Chess Fed Bans Officials from 7 'Anti-Fide' Federations

The Turkish Chess Federation has banned arbiters from seven countries from officiating at the Chess Olympiad due to take place from August 27 to September 10 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Federation has announced that they would not allow arbiters from France, England, Germany, Georgia, Ukraine, Switzerland and USA because these federations "launched or supported court cases against FIDE" which led to financial losses to FIDE and loss of funds that were meant for chess development.

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