This is from Chess today - issue CT(36) 1185- Thursday 2/6/2004
How
do you assess the situation in chess? When shall we get one World Chess
Champion? In the last two years Anand won several super tournaments, could
he be included in the process of the unification of the WCC title?
Ignatius
Leong (FIDE Vice President)
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I don't wish to be dragged into the WC script. But, the only way to go is
for FIDE to tighten up its rules, include everyone. Those who don't play
may do so. Players who play in the FIDE cycle
and also play in another should be expelled from FIDE. Players who play
in events which involve the expelled players shall also be expelled. I'm
not a dictator, but if a player doesn't love FIDE, I don't see any reason
why FIDE
should be so sympathetic towards him. By these, I also mean
stripping off titles and ratings. Of course, FIDE should also amend its
title/rating regulations to provide for suspension of the title/rating. If
one group emerges to be an alternate to FIDE, so be it.
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Hangin's response:
After
reading Ignatius comments in chess today issue CT (36) 1185, I am not
surprised that not a single move has been made in the name of
reunification in over 1.5 years. FIDE needs to strike a more conciliatory
tone when addressing issues. Talk
of banning players and stripping titles is not the sort of thing that
encourages reunification. Federations
or organizations are only as valuable as the talent they represent. Chess
needs more flexibility.
As
far as running out side the cycle, I recall comments made by former FIDE
President Max Euwe after the Spassky vs. Fischer match. Bobby had said he
would want to defend his title every year and that he also wanted to allow
Spassky a rematch. Euwe supported Fischer’s position; Euwe's only
condition was that the winner must still defend the title in the regular
Fide cycle. Well Fischer retired from chess for 20 years. However this is
the kind of flexibility that chess needs.
Also talk of banning players who
play in tournaments with banned players is a dangerous stance.
Chess is a simple game to play in terms of material. All you need
is a table, board, and the pieces. In
fact the players that FIDE represents don’t even need that. Fide should
drop its rhetoric and take a more conciliatory stance. In order for this
relationship to last, it requires mutual respect and flexibility.
Dictatorships can only control and restrict, they can't organize. In order
to build you need to organize.
PS. Ignatius to his credit has backed away from his comments of
banning players. See issue ct(50) 1199 - 2/17/2004
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