LETTRE DE KAMSKY A LA FIDE

Dear friend Fernando Arrabal...Please post these letters at your web site... Is planning to visit Europe, Lausanne...Best regards
________________________________________________________
To: Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President April 1, 2008

and Georgios Makropoulos, FIDE Deputy President

office@fide.com

kalmykia@center.ru ; fide@inbox.ru



Gentlemen:



Responding to the FIDE letter of March 28, 2008, regarding the semi-final World Chess Championship Kamsky - Topalov match, FIDE claims that it will provide among other things for:

a) fairness concerning treatment of both players in respect of organisational issues,

b) equal playing conditions,

c) anti-cheating measures.

However, without a list of specific measures that FIDE is planning to undertake the fundamental rights of the players FIDE’s statements are just empty promises. In as much, GM Kamsky’s personal experience at the 1996 World Chess Championship Kamsky – Karpov match organized in Elista, Russia the homeland of then Russian champion Karpov, shows that FIDE was not able to provide neither fairness, equality nor anti-cheating measures. Since the 1996 World Chess Championship match where a newly elected FIDE president Ilyumzhinov was assisted by Mr. Makropoulos, no radical changes has occured within FIDE to address the faireness and impartiality. The recent 'Toilet War’ at the 2006 Topalov-Kramnik World Championship match is a perfect example of FIDE’s inability to handle these issues.



Mr. Makropoulos offers numerous examples from other sports that are irrelevant and selfserving. However, the other chess championship matches that he refers to though played in "not neutral" countries had attractive prize funds over a Million dollars each, contrasted to a nominal prize fund offered by Topalov’s side. Further the soccer team does not need advice on how to play against its oponent when players run to the bathroom during a game unlike a chess player who is definitely able and tempted to use some extra help. Do you recall the scandal with the American Embassy building in Moscow that had electronic devises implanted by Russians?

Mr. Makropoulos is trying to tell us why GM Kamsky should not be concerned with playing in Bulgaria, GM Topalov’s homeland where GM Topalov has support from his sponsors, fans, and other followers that worship their chess herro. Does FIDE realy believe that any FIDE Supervisor or an Appeals Committee can protect GM Kamsky’s rights from being violated? The answer is clear – it is an impossible task. Under these circumstances and while FIDE has the means and resources to organize the match in a ‘neutral country’ FIDE’s insistence on Bulgaria as the place for the Kamsky - Topalov match is improper.



Furthermore FIDE’s denial of an extension of the bid deadline requested by GM Kamsky and the United States Chess Federation is an unreasonable and wrong decision.

Early in 2007 Topalov’s manager Silvio Danailov, who is also a personal friend of Mr. Makropoulos, was instrumental in securing a spot for GM Topalov at the 2008 World Championship as a challenger for the 2007 World Cup Winner. Thus GM Topalov had more than 1.5 years from the time he lost his title to GM Kramnik in 2006 to prepare his proposal for FIDE that had an arbitrary minimal prize fund of $150,000 and an unfair venue, Bulgaria. These conditions would be objected by any other winner of the 2007 World Cup.

To make conditions even more unfair, the Bulgarian side reserved the unilateral right to match any bid made from the US or Russia for two months. Thus these two countries are eliminated from a short list of potential chess sponsors, as no American or Russian sponsor will have a desire to waste his valuable time and money and go thru the trouble of making a bid just to learn that the other side has a guaranteed right to bid-over. That is being an intentional and well planned joint act by FIDE and Bulgarian side in violation of the rights of GM Kamsky. Since FIDE went as far as to bend its rules in Topalov’s favor it would not stop now to preserve a fair and impartial chess game. Accordingly Mr. Makropoulos’s attempts to convince GM Kamsky that FIDE will preserve the fair chess game in Bulgaria are totaly unrealistic.



While trying to find a sponsor for the match, from late December of 2007 thru present, GM Kamsky for 3 months was fully engaged with FIDE in a correspondence exchange and has been preoccupied and diverted from his normal chess preparations. However, FIDE still did not provide any requested information regarding the Minutes for FIDE Presidential Board meetings, the contract for the Kramnik-Anand match and the proposal/contract made by GM Topalov to FIDE. That seems to be the usual practice by FIDE which was polished over many years while prior World Champions including GM Ponomariev, GM Kasimdzhanov, GM Khalifman engaged in months-long negotiations over a reunification match with GM Kasparov where negotiations were all abolished due to unfair contractual terms and/or broken financial promises. Note that GM Ponomariev, GM Kasimdzhanov, GM Khalifman did not have a re-match opportunity after the loss of a championship title unlike GM Topalov and GM Kramnik. Accordingly if FIDE was able to create numerous special rules and procedures to accommodate both GM Topalov and GM Kramnik then it can and should change its procedures to accommodate GM Kamsky’s reasonable requests as well.



The semi-final World Chess Championship Topalov- Kamsky match is a fundamental milestone for the American challenger for the World Chess Championship title. GM Kamsky’s outstanding result at the 2007 World Cup was a culmination of years of hard work and preparations that enable him to qualify for the 2008 World Championship by competing with hundreds of top GM’s. For the second time in GM Kamsky’s chess career since 1996, FIDE and its leadership: Mr. Ilyumzhinov, Mr. Makropoulos and Mr. Campomanes are trying to destroy GM Kamsky’s chess career and purpose in life by creating an irresolvable conflict over the World Championship match. It appears that FIDE does not fully understand the gravity of the situation. While having numerous alternatives FIDE escalates the situation that may require courts intervention to protect GM Kamsky’s rights.



Since FIDE and not the Bulgarian Federation is in charge of the Topalov- Kamsky match it has the ability to amicably resolve any issue by organizing the match in a neutral country with a respectable prize fund of about 300,000 Euro which is 20% of the FIDE dues received from the Kramnik-Anand match with an advertised prize fund of 1.5 Million Euro. The Bulgarian side can contribute its $150,000 to the total prize fund. This is a realistic approach to the venue and prize fund problem and a better alternative to the existing playing conditions.



GM Kamsky is planning to work with FIDE regarding organizational issues of the Topalov- Kamsky match in a neutral country. Frankly it is unclear why Topalov insists on Bulgaria as the venue for this match especially if he is planning to play a fair chess game. Accordingly GM Topalov who became the challenger to the 2007 World Cup winner thru a FIDE nomination, bypassing a formal qualification process, should agree to play anywhere. I believe that FIDE is powerful enough to convince GM Topalov to voluntarily agree to the change of venue for the Topalov- Kamsky match.



It is clear that there are many alternatives available to FIDE to sponsor and organize this event in a country other than Bulgaria and that Gata Kamsky should not be denied an opportunity to play GM Topalov or be forced to accept the contract terms against his fundamental rights. FIDE must act to avoid violations of fair sportsmanship before the match so that chess fans can enjoy the game and FIDE can maintain its image.



I look forward from hearing from you before the deadline of April 11, 2008.



As always you can contact me directly at bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net



Sincerely,



Bella Kamskaya, Esq.

Counsel for Gata Kamsky





PS

GM Kamsky respectfully requests that minutes from March 2008 FIDE Presidential Board meeting in Istanbul, minutes from December 2007 FIDE Presidential Board meeting, the contract for the Kramnik-Anand match and the proposal/contract made by GM Topalov to FIDE together with a schedule of upcoming Presidential Board meetings be provided.



A comment regarding the 2009 World Chess Championship. Currently out of 4 potential candidates for the championship GMs Kramnik, Topalov, and Anand have refused to participate in qualification process via Grand-Prix. Each believes that he will be the champion however unless the runner-ups are ready to play in the 2009 Khanty-Mansiysk they will be out of 2009 championship cycle. How is FIDE prepared to handle this situation? Does FIDE plan to change its rules as it did in 2007-2008 to accommodate GM Topalov and Kramnik?

Your official response is hereby respectfully requested.










--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: FIDE World Chess Federation [mailto:office@fide.com]
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 9:11 AM
To: oleksandr_chernenko@svitonline.com; silviodanailov@hotmail.com
Cc: kamskygata@optonline.net; bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net; bhall@uschess.org; Chessoffice@aol.com; Bulgaria CF; fide@inbox.ru; ccamerica@prodigy.net.mx; IMWJD@aol.com; melendy@comcast.net
Subject: Kamsky - Topalov match 2008



Dear chess friends,



The FIDE Presidential Board confirmed in Istanbul that the bidding procedure for the Challengers Match 2008 continues as announced, without any other changes. FIDE is looking forward to receiving alternative offers for this match by the deadline of 11 April.



The FIDE Presidential board has also confirmed the qualifying procedure if any of the two participants fail to participate:



I.) if GM Kamsky refuses to participate, GM Shirov will be asked to participate as the runner-up of the World Cup; if GM Shirov also refuses, GM Topalov will automatically qualify for the World Championship match 2009.



II.) if GM Topalov refuses to participate, GM Kamsky will automatically qualify for the World Championship match 2009.



After the bidding procedure, both players (GM Kamsky and GM Topalov) will be requested to confirm their participation by returning their signed undertaking within 20 days after they receive it, in electronic form, from the FIDE Secretariat. The limited time available until the match is held means that no further extension of deadline will be given.



Concerning some important organisational issues of the Kamsky - Topalov match, I am proposing the following:



1.) As in the Anand - Kramnik match, a member of the FIDE Presidential Board will be appointed as FIDE Supervisor by the President and he will be above the Organising Committee in all issues involving:

a) fairness concerning treatment of both players in respect of organisational issues,

b) equal playing conditions

c) anti-cheating measures

d) fair publicity of both players through the event's press office



The Organising Committee has to follow the orders of the FIDE Supervisor in all issues involving the above aspects before and during the match. Any decision of the FIDE Supervisor can be appealed by one of the players ONLY to the Appeals Committee.



If the match is organised in a "neutral" country, the FIDE President will appoint the Supervisor unless both parties agree to a certain member of the FIDE board. If the match is organised in Bulgaria, the side of GM Kamsky will appoint a member of the FIDE Presidential Board as Supervisor. The same applies for GM Topalov if the match is organised in the United States.



2.) The Appeals Committee will consistof FIDE board members, appointed by the FIDE President. Each player will have the right to exclude 2 (two) FIDE board members before the FIDE President makes his decision. Personally, I do not intend to be a member of the Appeals Committee, although there is a provision in the regulations, and the FIDE President will appoint another member in my place.



3.) The2 arbiters of the match will be selected by FIDE after both players receive a list with 3 candidates and each player proposes 2 of them.



4.) There is no provision in the regulations about private rest rooms or private toilets. Therefore, my suggestion is that no player shall ask for such treatment which might create more problems than it solves.



It will be appreciated if we receive your comments concerning all the above within the next 10 days. The pure organisational issues can be discussed from now as they are not affected by the location of the venue.



Best regards,

Georgios Makropoulos

FIDE Deputy President

KAMSKY a raison toujours & ILYUMZHINOV toujours tort

Fernando Arrabal. Photo /Lis
______________________________________________________
From: FIDE World Chess Federation
To: roustam@optonline.net
Cc: imwjd@aol.com ; bhall@uschess.org ; melendy@comcast.net ; Chessoffice@aol.com ; fide@inbox.ru ; kalmykia@center.ru
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: Open Letter from Roustam Kamsky to FIDE President

Dear Mr Roustam Kamsky,

FIDE strongly condemns your continuous insults towards the FIDE President, a method which does not help in establishing proper communication between all parties.

All the technical details, mentioned in your open letter, have already been clarified by FIDE through our email below of 25 February.

Concerning your particular (and erroneous) statement that "GM Kamsky, the winner of the 2007 World Cup, did qualify to play the championship match against GM Anand", I clarify once more that the winner of the World Cup, according to FIDE regulations, doesn't get a direct match for the World Title. In 2005 the World Cup winner (Aronian) qualified for the Candidates Matches, in 2007 (Kamsky) qualified for a Challengers Semi-Final Match and the same will apply for the winner of the 2009 World Cup. The qualifying procedure is well-known and it was accepted by all players when they signed their undertaking for participating in the 2007 World Cup.

Georgios Makropoulos
FIDE Deputy President


----- Original Message -----
From: ROUSTAM KAMSKY
To: office@fide.com ; kalmykia@center.ru ; fide@inbox.ru
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 6:15 AM
Subject: Open Letter from Roustam Kamsky to FIDE President

February 28, 2008

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President
office@fide.com
kalmykia@center.ru ; fide@inbox.ru


Open letter from Mr. Roustam Kamsky to FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, in response to the FIDE decisions regarding the 2008 Championship and the Championship standing of GM Kramnik and GM Topalov as well as other relevant issues concerning the game of chess.

It is appears that as FIDE President and the President of Kalmyk Republik and a representative of Russian Government you have on numerous occasions ruled and advanced the position of Russian chess players directly violating the true spirit of sportsmanship in favor of your countrymen.
The first example is the 1996 world chess championship Kamsky –Karpov match held in Elista, Russia, where GM Karpov got unquestionable advantage by playing in Russia.
The second example is the upcoming 2008 Kramnik –Anand match. In 2007 Kramnik lost his title in Mexico City, but miraculously he was granted the privilege to challenge Anand in 2008. Thus without a prior selection GM Kramnik received a chance to compete at a final stage of 2008 world championship, a second bite at the apple. You have to ask yourself, is that a fair game?
GM Vladimir Kramnik is a nice guy. He is the only hope of Russian chess, or so it seems. However he was not able to successfully compete in any qualifying chess competitions neither under the PCA’s championship cycle nor under FIDE’s. In 2000 he was selected by a whim of Gary Kasparov to play in a private Kasparov-Kramnik match. Kramnik was selected despite his loss to GM Shirov, who was qualified as the legitimate challenger for the PCA crown. While Kramnik was not recognized as the champion by the majority of chess grandmasters after his win against Kasparov, and without other qualification, Kramnik was allowed to play a 2006 ‘reunification’ FIDE match against Topalov in Elista where Kramnik won. In 2006 Russia had its world champion who in 2007 lost his title in Mexico City.
In 2007 FIDE makes another unprecedented move – it allows Topalov a second bite at the apple. In order to avoid litigation with Topalov and Danailov, FIDE allows Topalov to challenge the 2007 World Cup Winner. Note that both Kramnik who in 2007 lost his title in Mexico City as well as Topalov who lost his title in 2006 in Elista were able to participate in the 2007 World Cup but they refused to play there.
FIDE president has unlimited power and the final decision making capacity, accordingly it was decided well in advance and without a good cause that FIDE will grant these two players privileges they did not deserve. FIDE made its decision which conflicts with the rights of 134 grandmasters who took part in NEW world championship cycle by competing in 2007 World Chess Cup. It is clear that these are only few examples of numerous violations of fair sportsmanship and basic rules of selections for the World Championship all of which point to the president.
Now, regarding the Topalov-Kamsky match. GM Kamsky, the winner of the 2007 World Cup, did qualify to play the championship match against GM Anand. The intermitted semi-final match clearly favors GM Topalov and should not have been approved by FIDE at all.
Mr. President, because of FIDE prior ruling allowing GM Topalov in the semi-final stage of the championship, GM Kamsky lost his right to play GM Anand for a price fund of 1.5 Mil Euro.
Further, in mid 2007 FIDE did have an alternative solution at its disposal by allowing GM Kramnik and GM Topalov to compete in a semi-final match with a prize fund of $150,000 for a chance to play with the 2008 World Champion, the winner of the title match between GM Anand and the Winner of 2007 World Cup.
Currently FIDE has been unwilling to rectify the existing situation and states that it has no money for the proper and comparable prize fund for the Topalov-Kamsky match. Also, FIDE states that the match in Bulgaria which has unequal bidding conditions from the beginning, will be organized with equal rights given to both players. However, FIDE President forgets that he did make similar “equal rights” promises times before and they failed.
Therefore due to numerous prior violations and an improper FIDE rule changes regarding participation of GM Topalov and GM Kramnik in the 2008 World Championship it is hereby respectfully requested that FIDE allocates a sum of $1,000,000 to organize and sponsor the Topalov-Kamsky match in a neutral country. If this reasonable request is not met, I believe that GM Kamsky will have no other recourse as to protect his rights in a court of law.

Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Sincerely,

Roustam Kamsky


P.S
I believe that it is important for FIDE to hear the voice of a public opinion, in case I do not receive FIDE’s response to this ‘Open Letter” within 7 days, I will urge the chess public, grandmasters and all who care about the chess to write, e-mail and contact FIDE directly so that FIDE will correct its mistake. In any respect, I believe that FIDE and Gata Kamsky prefer to resolve this issue amicable in that FIDE allocates the funds comparable for the level of such high level competition.




----- Original Message -----
From: FIDE World Chess Federation
To: Chessoffice@aol.com
Cc: fide@inbox.ru ; oleksandr_chernenko@svitonline.com ; queencapa@cox.net ; pknight@uschess.org ; CHESSJOEL@aol.com ; Paultruong@aol.com ; randallhough@yahoo.com ; Joel@channingcorporation.com ; SusanPolgar@aol.com ; randybauer2300@yahoo.com ; JABerryCG@aol.com ; kamskygata@optonline.net ; bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net ; confidential@uschess.org ; Chessdon@aol.com ; melendy@comcast.net ; bhall@uschess.org ; imwjd@aol.com
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: Statement by United States Chess Federation

Dear Mr Goichberg,
Concerning your statement of 12 February, I would like to make the following comments:

a) From the beginning of our correspondence, I have copied to the US federation all our mail exchanges with GM Gata Kamsky. I have also stated in my email of 3 January that, if the match is organised in the US, then FIDE would prefer the participation of the USCF in the preparation and organisation of the match. This is indicative of my desire to see the USCF actively involved in all the procedures of this match and I am happy that, through your statement, the USCF has finally accepted its role and responsibilities, although this should had been done from the first moment.

b) As you can see from my previous letters, there is an organiser (the Bulgarian Chess Federation) already awarded with holding the semi-final match since the FIDE presidential board meeting of June 2007 in Tallinn. Afterwards, the board decided in Singapore (December 2007) to give your side the possibility to submit an improved offer under a specific procedure. This was made possible only after the Bulgarian side had agreed to this new procedure. As you can understand, FIDE has certain legal obligations to the Bulgarian Federation, which is the original organiser of this semi-final match.

FIDE has also awarded in the recent past matches to an interested organiser, without holding bidding procedures. The match Topalov-Kramnik 2006 was organised in Elista (Russia) after FIDE received an offer by the Kalmyk Chess Federation. Also the match Anand-Kramnik 2008 has been awarded to UEP, a German company with friendly ties to GM Kramnik, again without holding any bidding procedure. It is a policy for FIDE to try and secure sponsors long before every event, irrelevant of who are the participants, in order to ensure that we have organisers and to help them by giving enough time for promotion and marketing. Based on this principle, Topalov agreed to play in Russia in 2006 and Anand agreed to play in Germany later this year. Both of them have shown their understanding to FIDE concerning this policy.

For all its future events, FIDE is trying to commit organisers at least 2-3 years before, even when the participants are not known. This is common practice in all sports around the world and no one complains if, for example, the final match of the World Cup in soccer is held in the country of one of the teams. And consider that we are speaking about sports like soccer or basketball where home field plays an important role and affects the performance of teams and players.

On the other side, FIDE has also some negative experience from trying to attract sponsorship via bidding procedures for such events. The Candidates Matches 2007 required only 40,000 USD as prize fund for each match and even so, no national federation of the participating players were able to submit any bid for their own players. Including the US federation for the match Kamsky-Bacrot. In the end, the FIDE President funded these matches in order to save the whole world championship cycle. The games were organised in Elista, Russia and only one Russian player, GM Grischuk, finally qualified. It is therefore our conclusive policy that when an organiser is awarded an event, FIDE does not endanger the safety of this event, especially when no other sponsor is ready to take over.

Concerning the prize fund of the semi-final match, FIDE received an improved offer by the Bulgarian Chess Federation offering 250,000 USD if all parties signed by 5 February. This offer was sent to your federation and GM Kamsky but FIDE never received a reply by the end of the deadline offered.

Furthermore, as already repeated in my letters of 3 January and 16 January, I would like to emphasize that FIDE guarantees fair treatment and equal conditions to both players wherever this match is held. In this case, if the match is held in the US, FIDE is expecting the full support and co-operation of the USCF for this matter.

Concerning your statement that "these bidding procedures are improper", actually you would have been right if there wasn't already an organiser which has been awarded the event. To this end, the decisions of FIDE aim to protect the minimum funding of this match and at the same time to try and improve the financial conditions for both players. There is no alternative legal solution available which combines both of the above.

The issue about Spain has been misunderstood. Spain is considered as a country friendly to Topalov's side, as he has his permanent residence there. If your side or GM Kamsky accepts Spain as a "neutral" country, it is of course no issue for FIDE at all.

With this opportunity, I would like to emphasize that the decisions of the FIDE President are final and have been also copied to the representatives of GM Kamsky. Most of the demands of GM Kamsky have been satisfied, including all the Grand-Prix arrangements he requested and the extention of the deadline to 31 March and now 11 April (initially set for 31 January). All the other issues you raise in your statement will be dealt with during the next FIDE board meeting in Istanbul 19-20 March 2008.

Best regards,

Georgios Makropoulos
FIDE Deputy President

PS: I am sorry for the delay of my reply but I was travelling the previous weeks and was not immediately informed about your email.



----- Original Message -----
From: FIDE World Chess Federation
To: bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net
Cc: kamskygata@optonline.net ; bhall@uschess.org ; Chessoffice@aol.com ; kalmykia@center.ru ; fide@inbox.ru ; melendy@comcast.net
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 5:56 PM
Subject: Re: Topalov-Kamsky match

To: GM Gata Kamsky

Dear Gata,

I am afraid that your representative Mrs Bella Kamskaya cannot see the obvious: There is no written contract yet with the Bulgarian Chess Federation. Otherwise we wouldn't discuss at all today the procedure of organising this match outside Bulgaria. This is something that I have also repeated in my email of 16 January and I cannot understand why she is insisting to get a copy of this non-existing document.

Concerning the sponsorship of the match, it is well known that IOC forbids the use of sponsors producing and distributing products/services such as cigarettes, alcohol or gambling.

In reply to your request for FIDE to fund this match, I would like to inform you that in our budget there is no money to fund any match of the World Championship cycle. All the funding comes from organisers and their legitimate sponsors. As for the other of your points, your request for extended time to bring an alternative offer was accepted as well as your request for a bidding procedure to be announced on the FIDE website. So personally, I consider it impossible for FIDE to satisfy your last request about 1,000,000 USD prize money from its own funds.

With this opportunity, I would like to emphasize once more that the decisions of the FIDE President are final and have been also copied to the US Chess Federation. Most of your demands have been satisfied, including all the Grand-Prix arrangements you requested and the extention of the deadline to 31 March and now 11 April (initially set for 31 January). Any other issues you have raised will be dealt with during the next FIDE board meeting in Istanbul 19-20 March 2008.

Best regards,

Georgios Makropoulos
FIDE Deputy President


----- Original Message -----
From: Bella Kamskaya
To: office@fide.com ; kalmykia@center.ru ; fide@inbox.ru
Cc: 'Gata Kamsky'
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 9:22 PM
Subject: Topalov-Kamsky match

The Law Offices
of
SHELDON MARTIN KRUPNICK
114 Old Country Road – Suite 544
Mineola, NY 11501
OF COUNSEL 516 – 741 – 7800 Tel LAW CLERK
MARTIN L. CAINE 516 – 385 – 1817 Fax KEVIN KRUPNICK
krupnicklaw@optonline.net

JENIFER DROSSMAN* BELLA KAMSKAYA, ESQ.
*Admitted, New York & New Jersey

February 22, 2008

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President
Georgios Makropoulos, Chairman, World Championship Committee
office@fide.com
kalmykia@center.ru ; fide@inbox.ru

Gentlemen:

There was no response from FIDE to the correspondence dated February 12, 2008, accordingly on behalf of grandmaster Gata Kamsky consider this a second request for the same relief. Take notice that FIDE continues to ignore the issues raised by GM Kamsky that require direct dialogue and cooperation from FIDE which will undermine FIDE’s own goals and standards that it has been setting while desirous of becoming a member of IOC and intending to take part at the informal meeting of the European Union Sports Ministers in March 2008.

It is respectfully requested that FIDE begins to negotiate with GM Kamsky on the same terms and conditions as it does dialogue with Mr. Danailov and GM Topalov. There is no need to withhold requested information when most of the information about Topalov’s and Kramnik’s participation in the 2008 Championship has been a subject of a public domain.
The general public demands proper and fair sportsmanship and equal conditions for the Topalov-Kamsky match. FIDE shall recognize that there is only one acceptable basic premise: FIDE shall not sacrifice GM Kamsky’s interests for the benefit of Mr. Danailov/GM Topalov and GM Kramnik. In the past FIDE has made certain unjustified concessions to the participation of Topalov and Kramnik in the world championship, intended to avoid litigation. I believe that FIDE and GM Kamsky would also benefit from a direct dialogue on the mutually acceptable terms. Accordingly please consider allocation of a prize fund in the amount of $1,000,000.00 US from FIDE’s funds/FIDE Sponsors to organize the Topalov-Kamsky match in a neutral country where neither player rights are violated.
As always you can contact me directly at bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net

Sincerely,

Bella Kamskaya, Esq.
Counsel for Gata Kamsky






The Law Offices
of
SHELDON MARTIN KRUPNICK
114 Old Country Road – Suite 544
Mineola, NY 11501
OF COUNSEL 516 – 741 – 7800 Tel LAW CLERK
MARTIN L. CAINE 516 – 385 – 1817 Fax KEVIN KRUPNICK
krupnicklaw@optonline.net
JENIFER DROSSMAN* BELLA KAMSKAYA, ESQ.
*Admitted, New York & New Jersey

SECOND REQUEST

February 22, 2008

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President
Georgios Makropoulos, Chairman, World Championship Committee
office@fide.com
kalmykia@center.ru ; fide@inbox.ru


Gentlemen:


In response to FIDE letter dated February 11, 2008, FIDE has made a decision in accepting Bulgarian offer without consulting with GM Kamsky or taking into consideration his open opposition to holding the 2008 World Chess Championship semi-final Topalov –Kamsky match in Bulgaria.

FIDE directly favors and adopts its rules to give an advantage to the home country of GM Topalov, despite FIDE’s long recognized right of a player to object to playing a match in his opponent’s home country. GM Kamsky objects to holding the 2008 World Chess Championship semi-final Topalov –Kamsky match in Bulgaria. GM Kamsky has numerous reasons to object to playing in his opponent’s home country based on his experience at the 1996 Kamsky-Karpov match, held in Russia.

Further in its public announcement FIDE states that Bulgarian offer has been approved by the FIDE Presidential Board since June 2007, however earlier Mr. Makropoulos denied an existence of an agreement between FIDE and the Bulgarian Chess Federation, refusing to provide GM Kamsky any documentation. Accordingly, once again GM Kamsky requests that all contracts, agreements, and documents between FIDE and Bulgarian Chess Federation and/or Mr. Danailov related to either Topalov-Kamsky match and/or Topalov vs. the winner of the 2007 World Chess Cup be provided by FIDE without further delay. Notice for your convenience FIDE initial response could be in electronic format following by a paper version of all documents which pages shall have initials or other authentication by the contracting parties.

Furthermore, your clarification and relevant documentation is required regarding the following FIDE statement:
“No bidder can propose a sponsor which shall be in conflict with the regulations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).”

Finally, announced FIDE bidding rules are discouraging to potential bidders in the USA, Russia, and Spain who are less likely to put much effort into trying to make the best bid when a privileged Bulgarian bidder will learn the details of that bid and need only to match it to prevail. Therefore, on behalf of GM Kamsky, I urge you to reconsider FIDE position and to announce a more equitable bidding procedure or in alternative, due to time constraints, FIDE could allocate money from its own funds to sponsor the match in a neutral country where neither player rights are violated.

Due to the eminent urgency please respond at your earliest convenience directly to bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net
Sincerely,

Bella Kamskaya, Esq.
Counsel for Gata Kamsky
Law Offices of Sheldon Martin Krupnick
114 Old Country Road, Suite 544
Mineola, NY 11501
E-mail: bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net

Cc: Mr. Bill Goichberg, USCF Executive Board President:
chessoffice@aol.com
GM Kamsky kamskygata@optonline.net


____________________________________________________________
To: FIDE President, Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV New letter January 17, 2008

office@fide.com

copy to

Mr. Georgios MAKROPOULOS
Chairman World Championship Committee;



Mr. President:



I would like to bring to your attention the correspondence from Mr. Makropoulos dated January 16, 2008, which took him two weeks to respond to GM Kamsky’s letter of January 4th, 2008, denying GM Kamsky an equal treatment which is disturbing, outrageously unfair and must be a concern to FIDE. Therefore this letter is addressed to you directly, asking for your positive resolution.

First, the extension of the bidding deadline till March 30, 2008, which was unconditionally granted on January 3, 2008, was threatened to be revoked if GM Kamsky does not consent to other changes which are clearly not in his best interest. The Kamsky’s team insists that the March 30, 2008, bidding deadline shall remain unchanged. Please consider an additional extension of the deadline till April 30, 2008, as was originally requested by GM Kamsky.

Second, Mr. Makropoulos’s direct blackmail was intended to force GM Kamsky to agree with the position of Mr. Danailov who allowed “for the possibility to the USCF or your side to secure another organiser under the condition that the Bulgarian side will receive a 2-month term to match any improved offer if it comes from USA or Russia.” Currently, there is no agreement between FIDE and Bulgarian Chess Federation regarding Kamsky-Topalov Match, thus FIDE should not take instruction from the Topalov’s manager, the person who is directly interested in the outcome of the bidding process. If FIDE wants to create equal conditions for both players at the match, this process shall begin at the bidding table and therefore each side shall be afforded equal rights for an extension of any counter-bid that may follow. Thus, the Kamsky’s team insists that FIDE takes an independent position and allows Kamsky the same 2-month-period to present a counter-bid, if that need shall arise.

Further, it is impermissible for FIDE and disrespectful to the participants to have a prize fund for a semi-final match of $150,000 while FIDE allocates 1.5 Million Euro for the Kramnik-Anand match. This is blatantly unfair and shall be subject to an independent investigation. GM Kamsky urges FIDE to utilize its vast resources to find competent sponsors for the Kamsky-Topalov match without putting this heavy burden solely on GM Kamsky, with only 2 weeks notice.

About four years ago, the winners of the World Cup were given the title of the World Champion and they were: GMs Anand, Khalifman, Ponomariov and Kasimdzhanov, and nobody received such a favorable treatment from FIDE as GM Topalov and GM Kramnik. Both of them did not take part in the qualification process from the “ground zero” as GM Kamsky did by winning the 2007 World Cup. FIDE should acknowledge the fact that, but for, the concessions given to GM Topalov and GM Kramnik, a winner of the 2007 World Cup, GM Kamsky, has all moral and legal rights to play directly against GM Anand for the title of the World Champion.

It is clear that GM Kamsky was not privy to the negotiations that underwent between Topalov’s team, specifically Mr. Danailov and FIDE that occurred before GM Kamsky won the 2007 World Cup. Now that GM Kamsky has his direct title and financial stake in the world championship process, it is critical that GM Kamsky must have all relevant information directly. Mr. Makropoulos’s reference to the confidentiality clauses and referral to the FIDE Vice-President Mr. Kelleher is improper. GM Kamsky can personally secure the confidentiality of these documents to the highest degree, without involvement of third parties such as Mr. Kelleher.

Accordingly, GM Kamsky respectfully makes his third request for documentation/contracts regarding (i) semi-final match negotiations between FIDE and GM Topalov/ Mr. Danailov and (ii) the agreement between FIDE, GM Anand and GM Kramnik for the Kramnik-Anand Match.

It is imperative that GM Kamsky participates in all negotiations on an equal basis. This means that he must be privy to all information considering that GM Topalov and GM Kramnik were offered spots in the World Championship Matches without first competing in any qualifying competition, and due to the great disparity between the prize funds of Kramnik-Anand and the Kamsky-Topalov matches. Therefore, it is respectfully requested that FIDE voluntarily produces all relevant documents. If FIDE chooses to continue to procure Mr. Danailov’s position to the detriment of GM Kamsky, please take notice that to secure an equal treatment, these documents will be obtained thru other channels.

Finally Mr. Makropoulos should not worry himself regarding GM Kamsky’s performance at the 2008 Grand-Prix. Please note GM Kamsky’s preference for the Kamsky-Topalov Match is for September or November of 2008. Also, GM Kamsky affirms his position to play in all Grand-Prix, including the December 2008 event, since he has no other tournaments to play.

Due to the eminent urgency please respond at your earliest convenience directly at bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net

Sincerely,



Bella Kamskaya, Esq.

Counsel for Gata Kamsky

Law Offices of Sheldon Martin Krupnick

114 Old Country Road, Suite 544

Mineola, NY 11501







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Dear Gata,



The exact dates of the December Grand-Prix tournament are not yet known. Please also note that the World Mind Sport Games are 3-18 October in Beijing, the World Championship Match Anand - Kramnik is 11-30 October in Bonn, the Chess Olympiad is 12-25 November in Dresden and in December we have your match against Topalov and the GP tournament.



Therefore, I cannot see how it would be possible for someone to play in both competitions in December. It is obvious that even if the two events would not coincide, the dates of both events will be so close that, for your better performance (yours and Topalov's), you should both choose 4 of the other 5 GP tournaments.



A final contract with the Bulgarian Chess Federation has not been signed yet, otherwise we wouldn't discuss at this moment the possibility of organising this match outside Bulgaria. The other contract which you are requesting, between FIDE, Anand and Kramnik, is confidential according to one of its clauses and we cannot make it public. A copy has been sent to FIDE Vice-President Mr Kelleher and he can answer to any of your questions if you wish.



I would like to make it clear that the Bulgarian Chess Fedeartion has morally, and probably legally, the right to organise the match. But Mr Danailov has agreed to give the possibility to the USCF or your side to secure another organiser under the condition that the Bulgarian side will receive a 2-month term to match any improved offer if it comes from USA or Russia. If a bid comes from any other country, FIDE will immediately accept it. Connsequently, your request for "the same time period to present a counter-bid" for both sides cannot be accepted.



Last but not least, I would like to emphasize that FIDE can guarantee fair treatment and equal conditions to both players wherever this match is held. The details and the procedure will be described in the common contract which will be signed from your side and Topalov with FIDE and between FIDE and the organiser. For such matters we can have a meeting in Athens so we can conclude on the final version of the agreement.



I kindly ask you to confirm that you approve this procedure so we can also inform the Bulgarian side. I am afraid that, as long as this issue is delayed, we will be trapped between one or the other's side intolerance. In that case we will finally be forced to follow the decision of the FIDE Presidential Board in Singapore which gave your side the possibility to bring an alternative offer by 31 January 2008.



Best regards,



Georgios Makropoulos

FIDE Deputy President









----- Original Message -----

From: Bella Kamskaya

To: office@fide.com


Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 9:06 PM

Subject: RE: Match Kamsky - Topalov



Mr. Georgios Makropoulos, Chairman January 4, 2008

FIDE World Championship Committee

FIDE Deputy President

FIDE World Chess Federation [office@fide.com]



Dear Mr. Makropoulos:



Seasonal Greetings to you and your family!

I am in receipt of the FIDE modification to the regulations of the Grand-Prix which will allow GM Kamsky to play in all tournaments from April 2008, as per your letter dated January 3, 2008. The Kamsky’s team (GM Kamsky, his manager and his legal counsel) appreciates the fact that FIDE made these concessions in favor of the players and all chess fans.

Notwithstanding all the changes that were already made, the minor point that still needs to be resolved is an avoidance of a conflict between the Kamsky-Topalov match and the Grand-Prix in December of 2008. Since the dates for the Kamsky –Topalov match are still under negotiation, the proper changes can be made to avoid any and all conflicts in FIDE’s December of 2008 schedule, so that no player loses even a single Grand-Prix event.

I am not aware of the dated for the December 2008 Grand-Prix event, once they are determined, I have no doubt that we can make another joint effort in “ironing” the details for December of 2008 FIDE schedule so that the Kamsky-Topalov Match is held before the December of 2008 Grand-Prix event.

Further, in order to be able to negotiate fairly every aspect of the Kamsky-Topalov Match, including the exact time of this so anticipated event, it is respectfully requested that FIDE consults with all participants to achieve a complete satisfaction. On behalf of the Kamsky’s team, I propose a joint session in Moscow between the Kamsky’s Team, Topalov’s Team and the FIDE so that everything is contractually settled without imposition of specific terms upon either party without any prior consultation or notice.

Thank you for granting an extension of the deadline for the Kamsky Bid till March 31, 2008. In regards to the bidding process, please provide at your earliest convenience a copy of an existing Bid offer/Contract made between FIDE and the Bulgarian Federation for the Match between Topalov and the Winner of the 2007 World Cup and a copy of a contract for the Kramnik-Anand Match.

Please note that FIDE unilaterally allowed the Bulgarian Federation a 2-month period to match the offer coming from the Kamsky’s side, if the Kamsky’s proposal comes from USA or Russia. We are of an opinion that the FIDE should accept the highest bid presented to it as of March 31, 2008, or both sides should have the same time period to present a counter-bid.

Please comment on whether the FIDE is willing to balance these organizational issues in the interests of a fair treatment of both players.

Should you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me directly at bkkrupnicklaw@optonline.net or Mr. Oleksandr Chernenko, GM Kamsky’s manager, at e-mail oleksandr_chernenko@svitonline.com

Thank you very much for your attention and consideration.

Sincerely,



Bella Kamskaya, Esq.

Counsel for Gata Kamsky
The Law Offices of Sheldon Martin Krupnick
114 Old County Road, Suite 544
Mineola, New York, 11501




CC: GM Gata Kamsky kamskygata@optonline.net

Mr. Oleksandr Chernenko, GM Kamsky’s manager,








--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Dear Gata,



My best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2008 for you and your family!



1. As you might have already been informed by Geoffrey Borg, FIDE is implementing a modification in the regulations of the Grand-Prix which will allow you (and also Anand, Kramnik, Topalov) to play in the tournaments from April 2008.



2. Based on these changes, there is no reason now for your match against Topalov to be organised end August - September and it can be moved later in December, after the match Anand - Kramnik, as was originally planned. This means that you and Topalov would not be able to participate in the December tournament of the GP. But of course you can play in 4 of the rest 5 tournaments.



3. In this case we can extend the deadline for a possible sponsor from your side or the USCF for 31 March 2008, under the condition that up to the said deadline a bank guarantee will be submitted to FIDE which will cover the organiser's onbligations towards FIDE and the players, as they were described in our email of 27 December and in connection with article 3.17 (ceremonies / prize fund / stipends) of the match regulations Topalov - Kamsky. Please note that in addition to the above, the organiser must also cover the travel and accommodation expenses for the match principals as stated in article 3.18 of the regulations. The same applies for the players and their teams. To this end, I propose to include in the contract with the organiser the following (whoever this organiser is):



"The organiser shall arrange for the players plus the personal manager plus up to three (3) other members of their team (total 5 members for each team):

- business class return air fares for the Players (Kamsky and Topalov) and their Managers from various cities to the venue of the Challengers Match plus economy class return air fares for three (3) of his team members;

- full accommodation (including three meals per day and non-alcoholic drinks) for the Players (Kamsky and Topalov), their managers plus up to three (3) members of each team (suite for the players, junuior suites for their managers and single rooms for the rest 3 members of each team)."



4. As we have described in our email of 27 December, if the organiser's proposal will come from a country other than USA and Russia with a net prize fund of at least 250,000 USD, FIDE will accept this proposal and sign contracts with the organiser.



If a proposal comes from USA or Russia, then FIDE will give a 2-month period to the original organiser, the Bulgarian Federation, to check if they can match the offer coming from your side. If they cannot, the match will be organised in USA or Russia. If the Bulgarian Federation can match the offer, the event will be organised in Bulgaria.



5. In the following weeks we should finalise the contract which will be signed by you, Topalov and FIDE which will cover all sides concerning

a) fair treatment of both players in respect of organisational issues,

b) equal playing conditions

c) anti-cheating measures

d) fair publicity of both players through the event's press office.



At the same time we will prepare, in co-operation with your side and Topalov's, the contract which will be signed by FIDE and the organiser. If you or Topalov believe that the players should also sign the contract between FIDE and the organiser, FIDE has no objection on this issue.



I think that all the above satisfy your requests to the highest possible extent and I would like you to agree with the whole procedure. I am therefore expecting a written confirmation from your side.



Last but not least, I would like to bring into attention a very important matter for FIDE. If the event is organised in USA, then FIDE would prefer the participation of the USCF in the preparation and organisation of the match.



Best regards,



Georgios Makropoulos

Photos Kamsky

"Dear Fernando,We are sending our wedding picture from 2003". [Alisa/Gata]:

LETTER to Mr. Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV

To: FIDE President,
His Excellency Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV
office@fide.com
December 27, 2007

Dear Mr. ILYUMZHINOV:

I represent International Grandmaster Gata Kamsky who has requested my assistance regarding his Match Kamsky- Topalov (the Match).
As you are aware the last day for the submission of the official FIDE Sponsorship Bid for the Kamsky-Topalov match is January 31, 2008. Since the 2007 World Chess Cup has ended on December 19, 2007, and due to the Holidays, GM Kamsky has approximately two weeks to find a sponsor for the Match. This is an impossible task especially when GM Topalov had about one year to find his sponsor. Therefore it is respectfully requested that You utilize the powers granted by FIDE to postpone the last day for the FIDE Bid submission by the proposed sponsor till April 30, 2008.

Further, I would like to address the 2008 Grand-Prix series. During 2007 World Chess Cup the official FIDE rule was announced to state in sum that 4 top players from the World Cup will automatically qualify to play in the 2008 Grand-Prix. Accordingly GM Kamsky has earned his right to play in the 2008 Grand-Prix especially when his schedule for 2008 does not have any tournaments that may conflict with the Grand Prix.
It is respectfully requested that you make a formal announcement that GM Kamsky will play in 2008 Grand Prix series as currently scheduled for April, August and December of 2008. And further that FIDE will schedule the World Chess Championship match Kamsky-Topalov so that it does not conflict with the Grand-Prix.
GM Kamsky is very surprised that the upcoming 2008 FIDE Grand Prix rules were suddenly changed after he won the 2007 World Chess Cup and believes that this was done intentionally to cause damage and discriminate his professional chess career.
Please take all measures that within your power and control to correct this situation.
Thank you very much for your attention and consideration. Best Holiday wishes to all.
Sincerely,

Bella Kamskaya, Esq.
General Counsel for Gata Kamsky
Law Offices of Sheldon Martin Krupnick
114 Old Country Road, Suite 544
Mineola, NY 11501

Cc: Bill Hall, USCF Executive Director bhall@uschess.org

USCF Executive Board Members:
Susan Polgar, Chairman susanpolgar@aol.com
Jim Berry, Vice President jaberrycg@aol.com
Randy Bauer, VP Finance randybauer2300@yahoo.com
Paul Troung, VP Marketing & Communications paultroung@aol.com
Joel Channing,VP Business Development joel@channingcorporation.com
Randall Hough, VP Secretary randallhough@yahoo.com
GM Gata Kamsky.

LETTER. Bella Kamskaya, Esq.

Mr. Geoffrey D. BORG December 27, 2007
Villa Babushka, Sir. A. Freemantle Str.,
San Pawl Tat Targa NXR 06, Malta
Res: (356)214 347 29
Cell (356)994 34729
geoffrey.borg@gmail.com; gdb@nextgen.net.mt

Dear Mr. Borg:

This correspondence concerns International Grandmaster Gata Kamsky who has requested my assistance in preparing for the upcoming 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix among other chess competitions. Accordingly on GM Kamsky’s behalf, I would like to address numerous issues that require urgent resolution:
It is my understanding that the player’s commitment to participate in the FIDE Grand Prix series is due by December 31, 2007. Currently there was no official announcement made either by FIDE or the Global Chess BV, the Grand Prix series organizers, regarding 21 top world players that are selected to compete in the Grand Prix. As a result this correspondence is to confirm that Grandmaster Kamsky’s agrees to participate in all four Grand Prix events and that he awaits the official contract and/or the Player’s Undertaking from both FIDE and Global Chess BV.
Further, the selection method for the Grand Prix players, outlined in D.X. regulations for the Grand Prix, is not clear, therefore I would like to emphasize that Grandmaster Kamsky is qualified to participate in 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix based on the following:
1. GM Kamsky is the top rated player in the United States for more than 17 years; and
2. GM Kamsky is Number 17 according to the official FIDE Rating as of October 2007; and
3. GM Kamsky is the Winner of the 2007 World Cup and is one of the 4 top players to compete for the World Chess Championship Title; and
4. Prior FIDE announcements regarding selection of the players to compete in 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix included 4 players who passed to semi-final stage of 2007 World Cup, that includes the winner; and
5. That the rules for Grand Prix were changed at the Singapore FIDE meeting that took place AFTER 2007 World Cup where GM Kamsky became the winner, and also without a public announcement and/or NOTICE to all potential players who are to compete in the Grand Prix; and
6. GM Kamsky has no other tournaments that may conflict with his participation in 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix; and
7. That it is FIDE’s obligation to harmonize the FIDE chess calendar to avoid any conflict between Grand Prix and the World Chess Championship Matches;
Please provide the undersigned with the official response from FIDE and the Global Chess BV regarding the confirmation of GM Kamsky’s participation in 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix.
Should you have any questions, please contact the undersigned by e-mail or by tel..
Thank you very much for your attention and consideration. Best Holiday wishes to all.
Sincerely,

Bella Kamskaya, Esq.
General Counsel for Gata Kamsky
Law Offices of Sheldon Martin Krupnick
114 Old Country Road, Suite 544
Mineola, NY 11501
USA

CC: His Excellency Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV, FIDE President office@fide.com
Cc: Bill Hall, USCF Executive Director bhall@uschess.org

USCF Executive Board Members:
Susan Polgar, Chairman susanpolgar@aol.com
Jim Berry, Vice President jaberrycg@aol.com
Randy Bauer, VP Finance randybauer2300@yahoo.com
Paul Troung, VP Marketing & Communications paultroung@aol.com
Joel Channing,VP Business Development joel@channingcorporation.com
Randall Hough, VP Secretary randallhough@yahoo.com
CC: GM Gata Kamsky,

VERY IMPORTANT LETTER. KAMSKY

[Dear and loved Fernando Arrabal... I am sending you my letter... Best wishes for New Year to you and your family. Sincerely, Roustam Kamsky and family.]>>>>

"The ancient game of chess attracts huge public interest. About half a billion people around the globe are either play chess or consider themselves chess fans. Some 100’s thousands professional players worldwide were competing for 128 spots in 2007 World Chess Cup, organized by FIDE. The highest rated American grandmaster Gata Kamsky fought thru to the top of this pyramid, winning all matches in 2007 World Cup that was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. First started in 1998, as a bi-annual World Championships under the Olympic Knock-Out system, it is considered to be the strongest and toughest competition among grandmasters. The winners of these grandiose World Chess Cup competitions in prior years were given the title of the World Champion and they were the following grandmasters:

Anand, India;Khalifman, Russia;Ruslan Ponomarev, Ukraine; Rustem Kacimdzanov, Uzbekistan

However, the winner of 2005 World Chess Cup, GM Levon Aronian, Armenia, did not receive the title of the World Champion because the FIDE has made changes to its official rules.

By the time the American GM Kamsky becomes the winner of 2007 World Chess Cup, the FIDE rules were changed even further, instead of receiving the title of the World Champion, Kamsky has to win two more title matches. First, is the match against the ex-champion, Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria, and then to play against the winner of the match Kramnik- Anand which will be held in October of 2008. These specifics are being said so that readers are aware of what gigantic character and mental strength are needed in order to prepare and succeed to the top on this treacherous road to the title of the World Champion.

All World Champions named earlier and even some prominent grandmasters were taken care of for their sports achievements in their respective countries of origin: Russia, India, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia. The government memorialized their names in stone, donated apartments, paid for the “practice teams”- the whole array of coaches and seconds solicited among the prominent grandmasters, and even for doctors and psychologist. Further these Grandmasters were invited to attend events with the Precedents and were decorated with the Medals of Honor.

Contrary to all these recognition and publicity GM Kamsky had absolutely nothing! There was an absolute silence in press and television, like if Gata did not exist, however there was plenty of negative press about his father, Roustam. This story is quite similar to the life of Bobby Fisher.

People may wonder why Robert Fisher was so detached towards America? Was it because he lacked the assistance and instead he received poisoned press reviews by the authors paid by the KGB and the American Chess Federation. This negative publicity, intrigues and threats surrounding his march with Karpov did destroy his image and most likely cause his emotional disturbance.

The American Chess Federation with its magazine “Chess Life” are part of the most prominent and most funded federation in the world. Over the past years GM Kamsky officially addressed the USCF on numerous occasions but there was no response, no acknowledgement and only an empty silence. Form 1989, Gata Kamsky and his father became the target of the extensive psychological pressure in press. There was no complaints against the chess game that Kamsky played but most of the negative press was about his father who was his coach and the bodyguard.

At the age of 15 Gata made his grandmaster’s norms and at the age of 16 he already became the highest rated chess player in the US and Number 6 in the world. For the past 17 years he is the only American grandmasters who qualified to compete for the title of the World Champion. Also, in 1993 Gata was instrumental when the US team won its first team World Championship with Gata playing on the 1st board. Then in 2006 the American team won a bronze medal, getting ahead of the Russian team.

At the age of 20, Gata could have been the youngest World Champion only if the match against Karpov was an honest and correct competition and if some assistance was offered to Gata by the American Government and the USCF.

Going back in history.

Gata became the USSR chess master when he was 12 years old. Gary Kasparov became master at 15 and Anatoly Karpov at 18. Both Kasparov and Karpov had full support of Michil Botvinik’s chess school and the Russian Government. Historically all grandmasters in the former USSR were obligated to work for the benefit of the chosen ones -- Karpov and Kasparov. They were the only grandmasters allowed to travel abroad. This is incomprehensible to any American because we take for granted the fact that we are free to travel anywhere. Back to pre-Gorbachev era, the “iron gate of KGB” was the way of life in the USSR. Nobody was allowed out of the country without the KGB clearance.

Once Gata becomes the chess master at the age of 12, both Karpov and Kasparov try to prevent him from playing in any chess competitions in order to stop Gata’s advancement in chess. Over the next three years Gata was allowed to play only in 4 tournaments. At which time Kamsky’s family decides to defect to any country of the free world.

In March of 1989 Gata and his father were invited to play in the New York Open tournament with the protégée of the American Grandmaster Lev Alburt and with the assistance of the American Chess Foundation, headed by the executive director honorable Allen Kaufman and James Sherwin, who will be always remembered and appreciated by the Kamsky’s family.

However, from the moment Kamskys defected, all Russian press, radio and television began the nasty, angry and inaccurate publications, campaigning about Kamsky’s “miserable” life in US, all of which was intended to destroy their image and also to create fear and to prevent other sports figures from fleeing Russia. Unfortunately there were plenty of “freelance writers” paid by KGB, Karpov and Kasparov who were reprinting this material in American press. Karpov and Kasparov and/or their associates instantaneously and effectively used government powers and psychological “pressing”.

Why would that happen? The answer to this question will stay in the dorms of the Moscow Sport’s University that has a division of sport’s psychology and sociology. As was later disclosed to Kamsky the Father-Son team was under the “investigation” by the faculty for the purpose of creating a complete psychological, physical, and mental assessment of Kamskys and their weaknesses to be able to influence them during chess competitions. Another aspect of such psychological warfare was to influence-“zombie” the minds of readers by repeating negatives and complete lies about Roustam Kamsky creating negative public image and doubt in the relationship between father and son. This is the ancient principle –to divide and conquer. No other sport figure was subjected to such an immense, long term psychological pressing thru the public press as the Kamsky team. The results were to the satisfaction of the Russian Chess Federation. Clearly a lot was learned from the Fisher’s example; as a matter of fact, Anatoly Karpov did not play the World Championship match against Bobby Fisher but received his title by a forfeiture. The plan for the American grandmaster Kamsky was not to allow him to become a World Champion in a first place.

Nevertheless, in 1993, at the age of 19, GM Kamsky did qualify under two independent cycles (FIDE and PCA) and had a chance to unite both organizations, marking the beginning of the most horrible and difficult times.

In FIDE cycle Gata won against world’s strongest grandmasters: VanDerstern, Holland; Anand, India; and Salov, Russia and qualified to play against the World Champion Anatoly Karpov originally scheduled for March of 1995.

The FIDE match with GM Salov in India was a repetition of psychological pressing against Kamsky. That the second match against Anand under the PCA cycle was lost because it was scheduled in Las Palmas, Spain only 1 week after the conclusion of the FIDE match with Salov in India. Would anybody believe that that was not an intentional overlap in the schedule? (subject to another interview)

In 1995, the Russian FIDE World Champion Karpov evasively evaded his title match with the American GM Kamsky for about a year. At that time Karpov assisted in nominating of a new FIDE president, Mr. Kirsan Illumzinov. Shortly the Kamsky – Karpov match was scheduled in Elista, Kalmikia, Russia, the home town of the new FIDE president who was also the President of Kalmikia. To play the title match against the Russian champion in Russia was a violation of FIDE rules that required a neutral country for such competitions. This match was bluntly unfair, vicious and dishonest towards Kamsky. It was the culmination of the psychological warfare against Gata which totally destroyed him and became the reason for his decision to stop playing chess.

At the beginning of the match all independent journalists were asked to leave Elista. They were taken for “cultural tours” and returned only for the last game of the match.

Gata lost the match to Karpov but not without a fight.

Game #9. Roustam Kamsky discovered a “hidden” room behind the playing hall. That room was occupied by Karpov’s seconds GM Vasukov and IM Gagarin, also there were 4 computers, radio station to gain direct access to Moscow and monitors that were positioned to control all points of egress, the playing hall and the hallways. Positions on chess computers were advanced 10-15 moves in different variations. Roustam Kamsky summonsed the arbiter, Mr. Geis, and instructed him to stop such an advance analysis or totally close the room since the door was open at all times when A. Karpov was passing thru to get to his resting room and was able to hear game analysis by his second. However, neither Mr. Geis no Mr. Arnold Denker, who was appointed by the USCF to monitor the condition of the match and to guide GM Kamsky’s interest, did not take any measures. The official protest by GM Kamsky followed to which the FIDE officials interpose a document that stated that if match is interrupted, a forfeiture will result and all prize will be given to A. Karpov. Since there was no independent international press in Elista till the end of match, there was nobody to complain to.

Like in a nightmare dream newspapers and television in America and worldwide were celebrating victories of Karpov and Kasparov. After these unfair PCA and FIDE matches Gata was close to a nervous break down, just like Bobby Fisher. Upon Gata’s return from Elista he told his story, that was not published anyway, declared his protest and stopped playing chess for about 10 years.

Shortly Gata became a student at the Brooklyn College, graduated and…. decided to become an attorney. In 2004, after Gata received his law degree he….. returned to chess. His return was as a regular player when not many believed that he will be able to come back to the high chess.

However by 2005, just in one year, Gata qualified to compete in the World Championship qualifier matches 2006. Once again he was competing alone and …he lost. Once again he was without any support from the USCF, the governing body of the American Chess was dead silent and did not respond to the numerous requests for assistance which were addressed directly to the USCF president, Mr. Goichberg.

In 2007 after winning against 128 strongest grandmasters in the World Cup, Gata became one of the four top players who will compete for the Title of the World Champion in 2008.

For Gata the match with Topalov will be his 3rd attempt to win the World Championship and he heeds moral and financial support to win.

While many strong grandmasters can qualify to compete for the title of the World Champion, winning the title requires positive publicity, sponsors, financial investment and support of the Chess Federation. The time of lonesome heroes like Capablanka, Euve, Alekhine and Fisher has ended with the arrival of Karpov and Kasparov.

If American people want to see American grandmaster Kamsky as the next World Chess Champion, he would need the support of the Government of the City of New York including Mayer Bloomberg, investment from private sponsors to conduct the matches and the assistance of the USCF. Clearly the match Kamsky –Topalov, that will continue for about 3 weeks, would definitely create a significant amount of air time for the advertising on television and radio and huge publicity in press and the internet worldwide both for the hosting city and for the private sponsors.

Sincerely, Roustam Kamsky, the coach and the father."

Kamsky, genius calumniated and harassed by jealousy and lies

Playwright Fernando Arrabal with four chess pieces and a tower hit by lightning.Photo/Lis

Arrabal: "When I succeeded in collecting half a million dollars for Kamsky" (L'Express, Paris)
Kamsky, genius calumniated and harassed by jealousy and lies

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Gata Kamsky[***] : The best living chess player since Fischer[***]. An “American Tatar” and prodigy born in Siberia. A Mozart[***] persecuted by Salieris with a grave-digger’s manners. A Morphy [***] avatar for the wonderment of sycophants, and for their interdicts out of sheer quarrelsomeness and jealousy. In the final round (World Cup 2007) he beat the fearless Spaniard Alexei Shirov born in Latvia. Hooked by crooks for years, both have been prevented from reaching the top. More than by anyone else the acme, crowning, is deserved by this duet of chessboard geniuses, this pair of saints, lay saints (which is infinitely better): Gata and Shirov[**]. Cheating and pretending, the « assis » have decided that Gata must beat Anand or Kramnik again to receive the Champion title (or even Topalov aided by Danailov). In due course, in the playoffs, Kamsky crushed Kramnik and triumphed over Anand in the latter’s own fief of Sanghi Nagar. With Gata, experience (and the knowledge of its imprecision) is not lacking, he plays with the splendor and exactness of the heavenly bodies.

Gata was born in 1974 with a Tatar name, Gataulla, and Kamsky, his patronym, was the name of the theater company founded by his family of artists and playwrights. [“A life” is the wedding (wow) of events and feelings afforded by human existence. For the inquisitors of chess affairs, to live consists in pretending not to be dead.] Before he was fifteen years old Gata twice won the Soviet Union “junior” championship. In 1989 he chose freedom and escaped to New York. He proved invincible during the 1994 world championship. Anatoli Karpov[*] said about him, “He is capable of dethroning me. He is the most promising talent I have ever known. He easily eliminated his strongest rivals, he would be a merciless opponent for Kasparov.” Not very long ago, at the headquarters of the Tass Agency in Moscow, I tried to remind the neo-dissident of his words. Kasparov, however, had requested from the press conference organizers that they bar me from asking questions, as the “France 2” televised news report clearly shows. In the days of the Gulag and ice picks in the nape of the neck, Kamsky was a deserter and a target of soviet threats, which prevented him from concentrating fully. The “useful idiots of a radiant future” resorted to martingales and brutality to make sure he would not be recognized. So much zeal arising from the sewers of frustration! Given this harassment, this suffocation, Kamsky gave up chess-playing for the university. Until today’s triumphal return. As he becomes king, he will lack neither buffoons nor cymbals.

A Manifesto, in the best acceptation, is a written public statement by which a group of righteous persons condemn an abuse. Thirteen years ago a “whirlwind of defamation and calumnies” was unleashed against Kamsky (and his father too, even in Spain), and it has not fallen away. Together with eight intellectuals, we felt obliged to produce a manifesto to defend him. Milan Kundera [***], among others, signed it. We were demanding “the cessation of all calumnies against the Kamskys so that we might be filled with Gata’s immense talent.” As for me, I had been able to collect 500 000 dollars to help the very young emigrant who was facing hardships in New York. “We feel special tenderness and gratitude for Arrabal who helped us more than once in very difficult times; he is an extraordinary man sent to us by God,” Gata stated. Far, very far from violence, Gata knows how to live in his Carmel.

Altruism is a disposition that drives us to conduct ourselves with generosity and selflessness. After he beat Anand, Kamsky distributed much of his prize to poor families. When I met his father (shortly after I found the half-million dollars for his son), I noticed that he was discreetly slipping money into my hand while giving me a handshake. Because I did not want anyone to notice, I immediately put the money in my pocket. When I got home, I saw we were dealing with 800 dollars. I returned them to him by check. A short time later, however, he took us, my New York artist friends and my family, by limousine, to what we thought was “a place to have a drink.” He had invited us to dine at New York’s best Russian restaurant, with dancers and musicians. Altruism is his parallel, his meridian, and his leonine magnificence.

Jaculatories (ejaculations, from the Latin ‘jaculari’):
“Here jealousy and lies have kept me prisoner.” Brother Luis de Leon[***]
“I am delighted about the joy of the lovers of poetry and chess. Kamsky has proven again that he is the best.” Martin Marcos, poet.
“I am told that a new Watergate is being prepared against the glorious Kamsky.” From the blog of Ivan Humanes.

Other arrabalesque (from a federation member): “I only get along with Kamsky when I am not playing chess with him: his pieces on the chess board make me dizzy.”
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Le dramaturge Fernando Arrabal avec quatre pièces et une tour frappée par la foudre. Photo : Lis.



Arrabal: Quand j'ai réuni un demi-million de dollars pour Kamsky(l'Express, Paris)
Kamsky génie calomnié et harcelé par la jalousie et le mensonge.



Gata Kamsky[***] :C'est le meilleur joueur d'échecs vivant depuis Fischer[***]. Surdoué "tatare américain" né en Sibérie. Mozart[***] persécuté par des Salieri avec des façons de fossoyeur. Réincarnation de Morphy[***] pour l'émerveillement et le veto des sycophantes par pures querelle et jalousie. Dimanche dernier il a prouvé , une fois de plus, sa supériorité, en remportant la Coupe du Monde d'Echecs. Au cours de la finale il a battu l'intrépide Espagnol Alexei Shirov né en Lettonie. Pendant des années d'escroqueries de pipeurs, on les a empêchés d'atteindre le sommet. Cime et couronnement que mérite plus que quiconque ce duo de génies de l'échiquier, ce couple de saints laïcs (ce qui est infiniment mieux):Gata et Shirov[**]. Par des tricheries les "assis" ont décidé que s’il veut recevoir le titre de champion Gata devra battre de nouveau Anand ou Kramnik (ou même Topalov assisté de Danailov). En son temps, en quart de finale, Kamsky a écrasé Kramnik et triomphé d'Anand dans son propre fief de Sanghi Nagar. Avec Gata l'expérience (et ses imprécisions) ne manque pas, il joue avec la splendeur et l'exactitude du firmament.

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Gata est né en 1974 avec un nom tatare, Gataulla, et le patronyme Kamsky, titre de la compagnie de théâtre créée par sa famille d'artistes et de dramaturges.["Une vie" est une noce (very nice) d'événements avec les sentiments de l'existence humaine. Pour les inquisiteurs des échecs vivre consiste à faire comme s'ils n'étaient pas morts]. Il n'avait pas quinze ans quand Gata a remporté deux fois le championnat "junior" de l'Union Soviétique[™]. En 1989 il a choisi la liberté et s'est échappé pour rejoindre New York.Il s’est montré invincible pendant le championnat du monde de 1994. Anatoli Karpov[*] avait dit de lui : « Il est capable de me détrôner. C’est le talent le plus prometteur que j’aie connu. Il a aisément éliminé ses rivaux les plus forts ; il serait un adversaire intraitable pour Kasparov. » ²² Il n'y a pas si longtemps, au siège de l'Agence Tass de Moscou, j'avais tenté de rappeler ces propos au néo-dissident. Mais Kasparov avait exigé des organisateurs de la conférence de presse qu'ils m'interdisent de poser des questions, comme le prouve le reportage filmé de "France 2". Au temps du Goulag ou du pic à glace dans la nuque Kamski était un déserteur en butte aux menaces soviétiques qui l'empêchaient de se concentrer pleinement. Les "idiots utiles de l'avenir radieux" eurent recours à des martingales et à la brutalité pour éviter qu'il pût être reconnu. Que d'ardeur montée des égouts de la frustration! Vu ce harcèlement et cet étouffement Kamsky abandonna les échecs pour l'Université. Jusqu'à son retour triomphal aujourd'hui.Pour devenir roi ni les bouffons ni les cymbales ne lui feront défaut.

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Le Manifeste, dans sa meilleure acception, est un écrit public grâce auquel un groupe de justes condamne un abus. Il ya treize ans un "ouragan de diffamations et de calomnies" s'était déchaîné contre Kamsky (et son propre père, même en Espagne) , ce qui , malheureusement, n'a pas cessé aujourd'hui. Avec huit intellectuels nous nous étions vu contraints de rédiger un manifeste pour le défendre. Milan Kundera[***] , entre autres, l'avait signé. Nous demandions " de cesser les calomnies contre les Kamsky pour nous permettre d'être comblés par l’immense talent de Gata". Pour ma part j'étais parvenu à réunir avec l'Express 500.000 dollars pour aider le très jeune émigrant qui vivait difficilement à New York. Gata avait déclaré :" Nous éprouvons une tendresse particulière pour Arrabal qui nous a aidés plusieurs fois dans des moments très difficiles; c'est un homme exceptionnel, un envoyé de Dieu pour nous". Loin , très loin des violences, Kamsky sait vivre dans son Carmel.

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L'altruisme est la disposition qui nous pousse à nous conduire avec générosité et désintéressement. Kamsky, après avoir battu Anand, a distribué une grande partie de son prix aux famillles pauvres. Lorsque j'ai rencontré son père (peu après avoir trouvé le demi-million de dollars pour son fils), j'ai remarqué qu'il me glissait discrètement des billets en me serrant la main. Comme je ne voulais pas que le geste soit remarqué, j'ai mis l'argent dans ma poche sans rien regarder. En arrivant chez moi, j'ai vu qu'il s'agissait de 800 dollars. Je les lui ai retournés par chèque. Mais peu après il nous a conduits, mes amis artistes de New York et ma famille, en limousines , à ce que nous pensions être " un endroit où prendre un verre". C'était le meilleur restaurant russe de New York où il nous a invités à un dîner avec danseuses et musiciens. L'altruisme est son parallèle , son méridien et sa magnificence de lion.


Jaculatoires (éjaculations, du latin ‘jaculari’):

"Ici la jalousie et le mensonge m'ont tenu prisonnier":Fray Luis de Leon[***]

Je me félicite pour la joie des amoureux de la poésie et des échecs. Kamsky a de nouveau prouvé qu'il est le meilleur": Martin Marcos , poète.

"On me dit qu'un nouveau "waters gate" contre le glorieux Kamsky est en préparation". Blog d'Ivan Humanes

Autre arrabalesque (d'un membre de fédération) : "Je ne m'entends avec Kamsky que lorsque je ne joue pas aux échecs avec lui: ses pièces sur l'échiquier me donnent le vertige".

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Arrabal: Cuando reuní medio millón de dólares para Kamski (L'Express, Paris).

Kamski genio calumniado y acosado por la envidia y mentira.

Gata Kamski[***] Es el mejor jugador vivo de ajedrez desde Fischer[***]. Superdotado ‘tátaro americano’ nacido en Siberia. Mozart[***] perseguido por Salieris con maneras de sepultureros. Reencarnación de Morphy[***] para fascinación de los aficionados y veto de los sicofantes por pura camorra y envidia. El domingo pasado demostró, una vez más, su primacía ganando la Copa del Mundo de Ajedrez. En la final derrotó al intrépido español Alexéi Shírov nacido en Letonia. Durante años de estafas de tahúr, se les impidió alcanzar la cima. Cumbre y coronación que merece más que nadie este dúo de genios del tablero, esta pareja del santos civiles [lo cual es infinitamente mejor]: Gata y Shírov[**]. Con trampantojos los ‘sentados’ han decidido que para darle a Kamski el título de campeón, tendrá que derrotar de nuevo a Anand o a Krámnik (o incluso a Topálov ayudado por Danailov). En su día, en cuartos de final, Kamski aplastó a Krámnik, y venció a Anand en su propia sede india de Sanghi Nagar sobrada de remedios. Con Gata no cuenta la experiencia (y sus imprecisiones), juega con el esplendor y la exactitud del firmamento.

Gata nació en 1974 con un nombre tátaro, Gataulla, y el apellido Kamski, denominación de la compañía de teatro creado por su familia de artistas y dramaturgos. [« Una vida” es una boda (o la veda) de acontecimientos con sentimientos de una existencia humana. Para los inquisidores del ajedrez vivir consiste en hacer como si no estuvieran muertos]. Con menos de quince años Gata ganó dos veces el campeonato ‘junior’ de la Unión Soviética[™] . En 1989 eligió la libertad y se escapó a Nueva York. Invencible durante el campeonato del mundo de 1994, el propio Anatoli Kárpov[*] dijo de él : "Es capaz de destronarme. Es el talento más prometedor que he conocido. Ha eliminado con facilidad a los rivales màs fuertes; sería un oponente intratable para Kaspárov ». No hace mucho, en la sede de la agencia Tass[©] de Moscú, intenté recordarle estas palabras al neo-disidente. Pero Kaspárov exigió de los organizadores de la conferencia de prensa que me prohibieran hacerle preguntas, como quedó plasmado en el reportaje filmado de « France 2 ». En tiempos de gulag o piolet en la nuca Kamski era un desertor sujeto a amenazas soviéticas que le impedían concentrarse plenamente. Los “tontos útiles del porvenir radiante” se valieron de martingalas y brutalidad para evitar que fuera reconocido. ¡Cuánto ardor desde las alcantarillas de la frustración! Dado este acoso y asfixia Kamski abandonó el ajedrez por la Universidad. Hasta su actual retorno triunfal. No le faltarán ni bufones ni platillos para devenir rey.

El Manifiesto en su mejor acepción, es un escrito público gracias al cual un corro de justos condena un desafuero. Hace 13 años se desató contra Kamski (y su propio padre) un “huracán de difamaciones y calumnias » (incluso en la misma España) que desgraciadamente no ha cesado hoy. Con ocho intelectuales nos vimos obligados a redactar un manifiesto en su defensa. Entre otros lo firmó Milan Kundera[***]. Pedimos "el cese de las calumnias contra los Kamski para permitir que Gata nos colmara con su inmenso talento". Por mi parte conseguí reunir 500.000 $ para ayudar al jovencísimo emigrante que vivía difícilmente en NY. Gata comentó: "Sentimos un cariño especial por Arrabal, que nos ha ayudado varias veces en momentos muy difíciles; es un hombre excepcional, un enviado de Dios para nosotros". Lejos, muy lejos de las violencias Kamski sabe vivir en su carmelo.

El Altruismo es la disposición que nos incita a comportarnos de forma generosa y desinteresada. Kamski, tras su victoria sobre Anand, repartió buena parte del premio entre familias pobres. Cuando me encontré con su padre, (poco después de conseguir medio millón de dólares para su hijo), noté que deslizaba discretamente unos billetes al estrechar mi mano. Como no quise que nadie se percatara del gesto metí el dinero en el bolsillo sin mirarlo. Al llegar a casa, vi que eran 800 dólares. Se los devolví con un cheque. Pero poco después, a mis amigos artistas de NY y a mi familia, nos condujo en limusinas a lo que pensábamos sería un «local para echarse un trago ». Era el mejor restaurante ruso de Nueva York donde nos invitó a una cena con músicos y bailarinas. El altruismo es su paralelo, su meridiano y su melena de león.


Jaculatorias (eyaculaciones, del latín ‘jaculari’):

“Aquí la envidia y mentira me tuvieron encerrado”: Fray Luis de León

“Me felicito por la alegría de los amantes de la poesía y del ajedrez; Kamski ha vuelto a demostrar que es el mejor”: poeta Martín Marcos.

« Contra el glorioso Kamski me comentan que están preparando ya un nuevo ‘retrete gate’»: Blog de Ivan Humanes.

Otro arrabalesco (de miembre federativo): “sólo me entiendo con Kamski cuando no juego al ajedrez con él: con sus figuras el tablero me da vértigo”.