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