GM Alexander Khalifman, FIDE World Champion 1999-2000, commented on “Online 812″ about the FIDE Election. Below is an excerpt of the article.

“Which side are you in the dispute between A. Karpov and K. Ilyumzhinov?

– “I do not have any specific preference at the moment. Maybe, because I don’t know the situation very well. Everything is taking place in Moscow and I am in St. Petersburg. But, I think that the criticism addressed to the incumbent President is deserved. However, things are not black and white when describing this situation. There are pluses and a few minuses in Ilyumzhinov’s work.

The other thing is that the great chess player Anatoly Karpov has no program in the election, which does not inspire any confidence or trust. In fact, instead of a program, he is just making promises. Words, words, words… It is absolutely not clear what the future holds for us.

With Ilyumzhinov, when problems arise, he reaches in his own pocket, gets money and solves them. With Karpov, it is absolutely unclear for me how he would solve the problems. He is referring to some sponsors, and keeps repeating: “there will be sponsors, there will be sponsors..” But, he does not name a single specific sponsor.

Why is this such a great mystery? I am at my loss. “

http://www.online812.ru/2010/05/25/009/

05.27.2010
регионы россии
Evgeny Bareev

Champions’ Indian summer

Subjective speculations on a strange Kasparov-Karpov tandem

Kasparov and Karpov are playing another game, this time a political one.

Author: Evgeny Bareev – IGM, gold medallist of four chess Olympiads in the Russian team (1990, 1994, 1996, 1998), two World Championships (1997, 2005) and two European Championships (1992, 2003).

Latest scandalous events surrounding the Russian Chess Federation (namely a desperate effort of two Russian chess legends Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov, together with the Chairman of the RCF Board Alexander Bakh who joined them, to succeed in getting the news of Karpov’s nomination as Russia’s candidate to the position of the FIDE President, violating the Statutes of the organisation) made me think, why even the very idea of the joint management of the world chess movement by a tandem of the 12th and 13th World Champions seems to me a catastrophe for chess of the same scale as a Mexican bay fire for mankind.

During my entire professional chess career I have been a witness of a furious battle of Karpov and Kasparov against each other – both at the chess board, and around it – for the influence in various organisations and chess players’ unions and for various privileges. This fight always ended in eventual destruction of these organisations or receiving these privileges by depriving the rest of chess players of them. I would remind you in chronological order some episodes of the quasi-chess activities or actions of the Champions.

1992. GMA (International Grandmaster Association) created on Kasparov’s initiative is split due to a implacable conflict of the 13th World Champion and his managers with the other members of the Association because of the GMA finances. According to the explanation given to me then by Karpov (I just qualified for my first World Cup organised by GMA, and was sad to receive an official notice that it stopped its existence), the team of Kasparov and himself demanded unrealistic salaries and stipends. Bessel Kok, the then CEO and one of the top managers of the Association’s Sponsor SWIFT, did not concede to this pressure and soon this young and aspiring organisation finished its existence.

1993. Kasparov refuses to play a match against Short for the title under the FIDE aegis, not wishing to give to them a small part of the prize fund according to the Statutes, and creates a new organisation – PCA (Association of Professional Chess players), under which he plays this match without any deductions. As a result for the following 15 years chess world is sinking into chaos. I’d like to note that Karpov immediately took advantage of the situation to his favour and having won the match against Timman, was announced again FIDE World Champion. Both Karpov and Timman before this lost their candidates’ matches to Short and disqualified from the race for the world chess crown.

1994. FIDE Presidential elections in Moscow. Unexpectedly for many the sportsmen exchanged their T-shirts. Karpov supported Kouatly as a candidate, and Kasparov – no matter how weird it would seem to you – his worst enemy – Florencio Campomanes, famous for stopping the “unlimited battle” Karpov-Kasparov of 1984-1985 with a score 5-3 in Karpov’s favour and publicly accused of defending the interests of the opponent. First vote is a tie! The next day Kasparov’s team won convincingly. I recall seeing Kasparov up to now, who during the summer of the same year at the Novgorod tournament was dreamingly mumbling “Khoper, Khoper”, rubbing his hands. This was the first time I heard this strange word from him. Then it turned out that this “organisation” is a financial pyramid, which deceived dozens thousands of people in the whole country – and which was a generous sponsor of those FIDE Presidential elections.

1995. Karpov wins a convincing revanche. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov makes his first entry to a chess stage and at the extraordinary FIDE Congress immediately becomes President. With Karpov behind it. The mother of the 13th World champion was most upset by the fact that prior to that Ilyumzhinov was eating soup in her kitchen and did not share his plans with them. She promised not to ever invite him for lunch.

The same year Kasparov wins in World Trade Center in New York his match over Anand under PCA version, which he and Short created after they left FIDE. As it turned out, this was the last official event under the PCA aegis. Since the moment of Ilyumzhinov’s election as FIDE President Kasparov refuses to play in the tournaments under FIDE aegis, stating that Ilyumzhinov organises his championships for “dirty money”.

Approximately around the same time the battle at the “Eastern front” is becoming more agitated: Karpov and Kasparov are clashing over the control in the Russian Chess Federation, and in reality – as it seems – just for the right to manage the Central chess club on Gogolevsky blvd. This time in an exhausting struggle, after long legal suits the 13th World champion and his team won. Immediately after this moment the legendary club was let to various private companies, having nothing to do with chess. It is a mystery for me personally, where the money from these leases went. As GM S. Dolmatov was saying at that time, these years “the RCF budget was of a totally closed character. I as a Grandmaster, was not aware how and what money the RCF was making and how it spends it”. Dolmatov meant first of all the Chess Club and was demanding to organise a “comprehensive” inspection of it, saying that “there are some dirty games going on behind our backs”.

1996. Elista is staging a World Championship title match between Karpov and Kamsky with the prize fund being provided by the President of Kalmykia. Karpov convincingly wins and Kamsky, declaring that Karpov and Kasparov will never allow him become World Champion, leaves chess for nearly a decade.

Kasparov plays a commercial match against Deep Blue, sponsored by IBM. Intel, an opponent of IBM, who has been sponsoring PCA for three years and spent during this period more than five mln USD, immediately calls off future cooperation and leaves chess, which causes the collapse of Kasparov’s organisation. One year later, having lost another match to the same computer, Deep Blue, Great and Terrible, as admirers, followers and true friends of Kasparov call him, publicly and harshly accuses IBM in unfair play, and as a consequence, chess loses another large sponsor.

1997. First knockout World championship was organised. Ilyumzhinov thanked Karpov for his Presidency by a unique format – after winning six most difficult mini-matches, Anand – the current World Champion- in a few days- met Karpov for a six-game so-called final, where Karpov has been resting for a month preparing for the forthcoming event. So, it was not a surprise when exhausted Anand lost the tie-break. Karpov became a knockout “World Champion”.

1999. Second World knockout Championship is organised in Las-Vegas. This time the negotiations with FIDE have not brought a desirable result and the Champion has to defend his title from the second round. Karpov is indignant and sues FIDE. Besides, after having refused to participate, in the US he is trying all his resorts to cancel the 3 mln USD prize fund event, writing to the Nevada Governor a request to do it. Having learnt about it, chess players were very angry, and a German GM Lobron was chasing Karpov during a Dortmund tournament (Lobron has drunk too much) with the aim to inflict light bodily damage.

The result of a conciliatory encounter of Ilyumzhinov and Karpov was his withdrawal of his suit. We can only guess the reason which made a principled person give up his claims.

2000. Kasparov, who has not defended his World Championship title for five years, finally picks up his challenger – Vladimir Kramnik. Before this, due to various reasons, including financial ones, two matches for the titles fell through – against Shirov and Anand. Kasparov loses the match in all aspects and violating the contract signed by both participants before the match, immediately demands the revanche. We should remind you here that in the mid-80s, as a result of some serious struggle, he managed to cancel such matches, as Karpov was a stickler of the revanche.

2001. M. Botvinnik Memorial in Moscow. Kasparov, Kramnik and Karpov in a match-tournament. Shortly before the start, after reaching the agreements with the organisers of this event which had aspirations to become historical, Karpov “suddenly” refused to play and preferred due to some reasons which we can only guess about, the knockout World Championship, “incidentally” organised by FIDE during the same dates in the same city. In the first very round he lost to a Chinese player, who was not well-known. This is the end of the brilliant chess career of Karpov.

2002. Ukrainian R. Ponomarjov becomes FIDE World Champion. Kasparov, as it seems, is trying a campaign of public lauding of Ilyumzhinov’s virtues with the aim of returning the World Championship title by any means. They say that at the Bled Chess Olympiad, having his turn for a move, but just seeing Ilyumzhinov in the playing hall, Kasparov rushed to hug and kiss him under the approving roar of the audience. The same year Kasparov in fact started a campaign against Ilyumzhinov’s “chase” by media, praising the achievements of the latter in his capacity as Kalmykia’s state figure and a unique world chess leader. “Kommersant” newspaper wrote: “ The most expensive present was handed to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov by a chess player Garry Kasparov – his assurances in sincere friendship and his support of all the initiatives as FIDE President, and recognition of his being wrong in the past”. Quote from “Moskovsky Komsomolets”: “Kasparov underlined that now they are connected by business and commercial relations, which sometimes are stronger than friendly ties”.

The result of these in my opinion, humiliating speeches of Kasparov was the famous Prague Agreement and the right for a FIDE World championship title without any sporting qualification, which actually was cancelled the last moment. Ponomariov refused to play the match due to very strong pressure from Kasparov himself and a number of FIDE officials. Karpov at that period was accusing Kasparov in destructive activity: “Kasparov has made many mistakes. The situation in FIDE and the fact that the former harmonious World Chess Championship system is now turned into something incomprehensible – this is the result of Kasparov’s intrigues and activity”. Then chess circles had the following ironical saying: “President of FIDE and Kalmykia now has only clean banknotes. So Kasparov can play for them with his conscience being clear”.

2004. After Kasimdzhanov becomes new World knockout Champion, Kasparov of course receives a right to play a match for the title against him. Ilyumzhinov refused to personally provide the prize fund, and Kasparov failed to attract other sponsors. Years of public humiliation were wasted, he did not managed to return his title, and Kasparov again joins Ilyumzhinov’s opposition.

2005. Kasparov announces that his chess career is over.

2006. Karpov declares that he is going to run for the FIDE Presidency. As a result of a personal meeting Iyumzhinov succeeds to find solid arguments, and Karpov gives this idea up.

2006–2009. Happy years for chess. Several matches for the title were played. Chess world is unified. The number of top tournament increases alongside with earnings of professional chess players.

2007. Karpov as a member of the Public Chamber, brings the 64-Chess Review magazine to Kasparov in his detention cell. He was not allowed to see Kasparov, and he passes his small present through the mother of Kasparov – Klara. Historical reconciliation of earlier implacable opponents takes place.

2009. Karpov-Kasparov rapid chess match in Valencia. The announced series of similar matches does not take place due to the absence of interest in the world to their creative and sportive components.

2010. Karpov declares that he is intending to run for the FIDE President’s position with the objective of “saving chess which are in the deepest crisis”. Kasparov immediately renders him informational and moral support, trying to secure votes in a number of Western countries and the USA.

Of course, this is just a fraction of the events which have been taking place during these years with participation of Karpov and Kasparov. But even a quick glance is enough to understand that if destructive energy of two pupils of the Soviet chess school is united in one position – FIDE President, then chess players will have difficult times ahead of them. I do believe that this shall not happen.

Nezavisimaia gazeta ©
27.05.2010: http://www.ng.ru/regions/2010-05-27/5_champions.html

Dear World Chess Federation Family!

Here is my answer to Mr.Leo Batesti with an open letter published yesterday in Chessbase.
I would like to draw special attention of small and poor federations to this article.

Regards,
Ali Nihat YAZICI
One World. One Vision.

Dear Friends,

I should like to draw your attention to an article published yesterday (26 May 2010) in Chessbase written by Mr. Leo Battesti, French Federation´s Vice President named “An Inglorious Inventory”.

Under the paragraph “An Internal Pseudo Democracy” and specifically when he says: “Confronted by this problem, some federations would like to require a minimum number of members and clubs to distinguish a full Member Federation from an Associated one”, he attacks again the system of “one Federation one vote” to qualify FIDE members in First and Second Class ones.

It is not necessary to say that this spirit is totally against small Federations and aims to the control of FIDE by a bunch of strong Federations. It is clear aim of oligarchy or plutocracy.
The same was risen in the past, the last one when it was said the why Bermuda should have the same weight than China.

It is not the first time that we read this and will not be the last. I strongly reject this idea which is a real menace to most of the FIDE´s Federations.

I also think that this kind of information is spite of how insulting it is, will clarify the ideas that are in the backyard in this FIDE Presidential campaign.

His figures are all wrong. It is written under the title of eye-opening statistics, although all of them with blinkers! He says there are 143 members when there are 170. Imagine a campaign member, who does not have any idea about the number of federations, he wants vote. He also bases all his statistics on the FIDE ratings list – a typically narrow-minded approach.

Many large Federations (U.S.A., China, England rarely FIDE rate their tournaments). Mr.Batesti says that only French youth championships organised with more than 1000 players.

Dear Leo,

I invite you to Turkey in February 2011. You may see what we are doing here.

Of course they aim to amend voting rights as they fail to understand that FIDE is a body made up of National Federations. What they wanting to do is the same as giving wealthy people more votes than poor people in a democracy. It is pity that those people in campaign looking to world with blinkers without seeing panorama!

When asked by smaller nations, they deny that smaller nations would lose their vote. However Karpov is on record as saying that they will change the decision making process, but as decisions are made on the basis of One Federation, One Vote, their denial is not believable.

Indeed whatever they promise in their campaign they aim reverse.

I understand the students of Karpov are not very well trained with realities. So they will fail democracy exam in Khanty-Mansysk, the jury will be 170 members of FIDE!! Now do you start to understand me why I am with Kirsan?

Gens Una Sumus means ‘We are a family!’ This family – FIDE – does have small, big, weak, strong, poor, rich members. All they are equal for us!

We want democracy! We hate Oligarchy and Plutocracy!

One World. One Vision: http://www.onefide.com

“Rossiyskaya Gazeta”
(federal issue № 5184 (105) on May 18, 2010)

Mr. A. Dvorkovich – nomination of Karpov for Head of FIDE from Russia is illegitimate

In “Chess House” Arkady Dvorkovich (left) holds regular competitions among talented players. Photo: Mitrichev B.

On the eve the Russian Chess Federation has found itself in the epicentre of a big scandal. Let’s remind you that on Friday the highest body of the Federation Supervisory Board headed by the Assistant of the RF President A. Dvorkovich was to meet and discuss important issues for Russian chess – on chess development strategy, preparation of Russian teams for the Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Of course, it was planned to approve the budget of the RCF and new principles of the Federation’s work. There was no point on the nomination of the Russian candidate for the FIDE President. The thing is that Russia has already supported the candidacy of the Head of Kalmykia and incumbent President of FIDE – Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

No other variations were possible.

However, it turned out that instead of one planned in advance meeting of the RCF Supervisory Board, two of them took place at the same time! Part of the Board members led by the RCF Board Chairman A. Bakh, A. Karpov and Garry Kasparov, a “implacable opponent” who joined them), gathered in the Central Chess Club and voted for the nomination of the 12th World Champion for the position of the FIDE President. At the same time, the Supervisory Board head in the “Chess salon” had a meeting with other members of the Board.

After the appearance of the news that “Karpov is nominated as a Russian candidate” in informational sites, Mr. Dvorkovich stated to the press that the decisions taken in the Central Chess Club are illegitimate. He said that only the Chairman has a right by the Statutes to hold the meetings of the Supervisory Board, therefore both meetings cannot be called legitimate – one because of the Chairman’s absence, the second one – because of the lack of quorum.

Besides as Chairman Bakh has not undertaken necessary measures to register the RCF Statutes approved by the Congress, the most important decisions could not have been taken, even if the meeting had taken place.

Details from Mr. Dvorkovich to Rossiyskaia gazeta:

Dvorkovich – it is not a secret that restructuring has been going on in our chess Federation for several months. After Mr. Zhukov and me resigned and led the Supervisory Board, new Statutory documents of the RCF were prepared, and approved by the Congress delegates. To date, the new Statutes have not been registered by the Ministry of Justice.

There is a human factor which interferes with full and normal work of the Federation. I think that some people who are in the RCF management, in particular, Chairman A. Bakh, do not like the changes which were planned. Due to these changes they lose control over the finances and in fact are deprived of the “steering wheel”. They do not want to get along with the common in the world corporate principles of management, they are sabotaging the activities in the Federation in all ways.

Second moment – disagreements on who shall be the RCF candidate at the forthcoming FIDE Presidential elections. Despite the fact that the top management of the RCF Supervisory Board in my person, A. Zhukov and I. Kogan as well, decided to support Ilyumzhinov, Chairman of RCF Board A. Bakh is strongly by all means supporting Karpov. The things which happened on Friday, is the best proof of this – Mr. Bakh misinformed the Supervisory Board members of the venue of the meeting and called an “alternative” meeting. I think my duty is to state that any messages, declaration, information on decisions, taken by the Supervisory Board and the RCF in general, are fraudulent, deceitful and not corresponding the reality. I am waiting for the persons who violated the acting norms of the Federation, to take responsibility for this and resign.

I shall do my utmost so that the Statutes of the RCF approved at the Congress, be registered. This will enable the Supervisory Board to meet and take all legitimate decisions.

We have a candidate for the FIDE elections. If after the Statutes registration the Supervisory Board coming into force takes another decision, then it will be also legitimate. From my point of view, I case if any other candidate including A. Karpov, will be able to secure his nomination from any other Federation, e.g. French, then RCF shall not use the veto right, stipulated in the FIDE Statutes and block the candidate. I respect Karpov as a chess player but as an administrator, he loses to Ilyumzhinov. Besides, the candidacy of the head of Kalmykia was supported by A. Zhukov. By the way, Mr. Zhukov as myself, think that we should not be against Karpov’s running as a candidate from another federation. Their competition with K. Ilyumzhinov could be a positive factor for world chess.

Editorial note:
The main event of the year – Chess Olympiad will take place in Khanty-Mansiysk in September. Unfortunately, lately our great chess power cannot boast of any specific success. The reason is known: during his years in power Bakh quarrelled with nearly all top players. Despite all these, a new team led by Dvorkovich managed to unite the best for the victory in Khanty-Mansiysk. Let’s keep in mind that the team of Dvorkovich has created a strategy of chess development in Russia for several years ahead.

In particular, a concept of chess commercialisation and new image of the game have been prepared. Financing shall be drastically increased in comparison with previous years, finally we have a clear system of the teams preparation for Olympiads, a team is formed, as well as the chess management system. All this is risking to stay on a paper until the people for whom Russian chess has become a simple “feeder”, continue their “activities”, organising riots, which are in fact, more and more meaningless and merciless towards the great game.

“Alexandra Kosteniuk supports Arkady Dvorkovich” Read it at Chessdom.com!

(Did I shift or not?) – Do you want to learn what happened in 2006? Read it!

We all love chess. And the most important doctrine to be learnt in chess is not to repeat the same mistake again, to learn from mistakes.

It was the year of 2005, when I decided to create a group against FIDE management at the time. I had dreams and wanted to be in power to realise my dreams. Do not underestimate me being a dreamiest, look at Turkish Chess and see what have been realised, 10 years ago even could not be dreamed. Also the rumours about FIDE management were a reason for this raising up. Through the help of some friends Mr. Bessel Kok joined me. I remember even date – it was in 2005 FIDE Congress in Dresden, in the garden of Trefl Hotel we met for the first time. The gentleman, according to source of information, was a rich man, with clear experience in business and finding sponsorship. I respect anyone who is willing to contribute to chess in legal terms.

Of course my closest friend Geoffrey Borg was together with me for the right move campaign. I had a discussion with Mr. Kok and decided to create the ‘right move’ group, and accept his willing to join to this group. So, I did not join to team of Mr.Kok, he joined my team as the candidate for presidential post.

You may remember this campaign; it was a great experience for me. During the campaign I understood how a person can be a rich man, but even I learnt it from Kok, the variant for this aim has not been suitable for my personality.

We have lost elections with a clear difference of 96 to 54. I was in losing camp but it taught me a lot in the politics. I believe in that I learnt a lot from this chess game I lost. Do not we pay a cost for learning lessons? During this campaign one of the issues we have faced was a Karpov candidacy. We knew very clearly that a second candidate against to Kirsan would make our job very difficult. During those meetings with the third camp I met Mr. Karpov, and it was another excellent (!) experience for me.

Whatever…

We lost elections, but being one of the strongest Federation’s President, I accepted the result with maturity. At the end it is democracy all we believe in.

It was 6 August 2006 in Agri, when we organised World Youth Under- 16 Chess Olympiad Kirsan came to the opening ceremony. Since Agri airport is domestic, and his intensive schedule was not allowing him to come via Istanbul with a scheduled flight, he came and landed in Nahicevan (Azerbaijan) with a private jet, I picked up him from Nahicevan and we were driving with escorts to the town of Dogubeyazit for three hours. During this time, Kirsan expressed himself to me. It was my first private meeting with President for a long duration in car. He told me his dreams and ideas how to make chess a popular sport in the world. I loved those ideas, were not they my dreams? They were.

We went to opening ceremony and this famous picture you see everywhere was captured there.

Exactly after the opening ceremony, (Kirsan has been in Dogubeyazit for two or three hours) we returned back to Nahicevan to his private rented jet.

On our way back, the President of FIDE told me he was going to establish a new company (later called Global Chess) and he wanted to invite the good program of opposition and people into FIDE work. He told me that Kok will be in the management and I should be there due to my experience and good work I have carried out in Turkish Chess. He told me that he was going to put two million Euros as capital to company from his private money and my salary would be 10.000€ per month being deputy (or co-chairman I do not remember well) of the company. I have refused on the spot, although the money was equal to my 6-month salary. There are some principles, being President of Turkish Chess Federation, although it is legal money I could not accept such as job. I could not be the president of Turkish Chess Federation and working as staff of the President of FIDE. It is a conflict of interest for me. On the contrary, I know now that Mr.Kok has been paid from September 2006 till May 2009 a substantial amount of money, probably better then what I was proposed.

Later on, in 2007 when Kirsan came to FIDE Presidential Board in Antalya, we have met at the airport and with a VIP car went to Kemer. This time we were together with Berik Balgabaev and Kirsan offered me again this job in Global Chess. He told me Bessel Kok would be the Chairman, I would be co-chairman. Sure I refused again. I did not want to be reached in this way… Then Kirsan told me that he wanted me to be FIDE Vice President. My answer was clear, ‘I will tell my opinion always as I believe. ’ I do this still. I accepted and since this time in the board I have been telling what I believe in. No one tried to stop me or attacked me for my opinion in board. During my vice president position in FIDE, with any name, I was not paid 1 cent by FIDE or Kirsan!

From 2006 September till 2009 May, Kok was paid by Global Chess (Kirsan); a lot of money. As far as I know he did not manage to bring even one cent to Global Chess. Sure it is not my business but all should know this issue.

A few days ago, when I saw his support letter to Karpov, I was shocked. How is it possible to be in this situation. Yes! I made a mistake, a costly mistake, but I learnt a lot.

Why did I write this article?

From outside, as I was in 2006, there are so many rumours about FIDE management. But believe me when you are in, you understand that 100% of those rumours is rubbish. During the last two weeks I spoke with some delegates, they are afraid of Karpov’s allegations that many people in FIDE are corrupted. That was the reason, when I published my open letter, I requested Mr. Karpov, ‘give me a fact! Or apology!’ We did not see any of these proposed replies.

Sure it is a lie. Please check www.fide.com directory/minutes. You will see all minutes of meetings, decisions, and budgets, everything.

All meetings of FIDE are open to public, did you know that? Now try to think from my position, on one side – there are dirty games, on the other side – honest people accused by opposition. If you love chess, what you would do? Do not we need some people with courage and braveness to express their opinion? Is this wrong? I do not understand people who are accusing me of having changed my camp. Sorry! It is not me as the leader of the Right move who was paid and shifted his position. I did not get a cent from FIDE or FIDE people to step out. I see the realities, I understood my mistake and now I am making the correct move.

Kirsan is a candidate now!! I know it and you will see it. But the team is more important. If Kirsan steps out, since we are very strong team, we will find another candidate. We have B Plan, C Plan, D Plan, etc.. The leader may be anyone! From Africa, America, Asia, Europe or even from Turkey!! This wind started in 1995 and it will never go down.

Also I wanted to answer oppositions’ small guys sending around letters criticizing me for switching camp. Guys! After I have seen you in the “right move” campaign, I understood everything! That is the reason; I am in front fight with my brave chest fighting you. I am not earning my life from chess, on the contrary sacrificing a lot. Many people in this team are similar. Sure there are some of our federations stepping out from our group, because they are terrorized or misinformed. In what way?

• One of the biggest lies some people are using is that Kirsan will not run. They say this to many federations and they get their support, you will see how many of those federations that made an open letter for Karpov, will return back to home.
• They are using many allegations about honest and modest people, to change delegates opinion. Sure, justice will be revealed. We trust democracy and Justice!

So… Right move was a good spirit, I started, but I made a big mistake (??) choosing some wrong people there. All we should learn. I will not make the same mistake again! I am sure, some of you do not agree with that.

Chess will win! Our group will win!! Wait and see…

Ali Nihat YAZICI

President of Turkish Chess Federation