It’s good to see ACP backing
Kramnik
vs. Leko, the match of tradition, quality and value. FIDE has done a
poor job with world champion chess since 1993.
In 1993, Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short split from FIDE after a
dispute with FIDE over sponsorship. The players felt their views were
being ignored by FIDE. They created their own organisation and world
championship match. Instead of trying to repair the split of two of its
best players, FIDE held the Karpov vs. Timman world championship match.
Short had defeated both in candidate matches en route to facing
Garry Kasparov in 1993.
In 1972 FIDE
went to great lengths to save the Fischer vs. Spassky match. FIDE
President Max Euwe did a great job seeing that match through. Again In
1975, FIDE went to great lengths to save the world championship.
However, an uncompromising Bobby Fischer would not budge, even though all
but one of his demands had been granted.
Too bad in 1993 FIDE did not see the importance of keeping the world
championship in house. ACP
claims it will defend player’s rights worldwide.
I
hope ACP will also defend Kasparov’s rights as an ex world champion,
one match removed from his title. After all, ACP does recognized Kramnik
as the world champion, it therefore needs to recognize
Kasparov as the ex
champion. It’s encouraging
to see ACP willingness to take reunification into its own hands, should
FIDE not have a plan by October 2004. ACP is showing its maturity, by
willing to take important matters into its own hands and its willingness
to work with FIDE for the good of chess.
ACP is doing a fine job
standing up for players rights. ACP President
Joel
Lautier gave a good speech at the Kramnik vs. Leko press conference in
Hamburg Germany on May 12, 2004. It was encouraging to see a president of
a chess organization with an appreciation for world championship chess.
There is hope for the future.
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