05/21/2004 - Hangin's take :
Kasparov is
a little angry with Kramnik and his claim that Kasparov is no longer the
number one player. Well this
may be the true, but Kasparov still has rights as an ex world champion.
These rights should allow Kasparov to be seeded into the reunification
process. I think Kasparov has earned
the benefit of the doubt, as far as being the number one player. Kasparov
proposes that the top 4 players, namely Kasparov, Kramnik, Leko, Anand
face off the 4 semi-finalists from the Tripoli Knockout. There is no way
Kramnik would risk his title in such a contest.
Kasparov assertions:
1)
Kramnik has not shown that he is the best player in the world.
2)
Kramnik has not
defended his title in over 4 years.
Kasparov concludes
that Kramnik is not a world champion.
In fairness to
Kramnik his
sponsor
went bankrupt. This slowed the organization of the Kramnik vs. Leko
match. Leko won the right to challenge for the title, by winning at
Dortmund in 2002. So it has only been a two year wait.
Kramnik
had to take matters into his own hands.
I don’t think
that the world champion has to be the best player in the world. The Champ
should certainly be a very strong top player, hopefully in the top 5.
The champ doesn’t have to be the best, it’s the process of
selecting that should strive to find the best
player.
FIDE perfected the process in the mid 1960’s.
There have been points in chess history where the champ was not the
best in the world. Certainly
in 1920 Capablanca was stronger than Lasker. In 1936 Alekhine was stronger
than Euwe. In 1971 Fischer was stronger than Spassky. I think in 1984 that
Kasparov was stronger than Karpov.
We can’t strip
Kramnik of the title he won with his great victory over Kasparov.
We also can strip Kasparov of his rights as an ex champion one
match removed from his title.
Kasparov is right to be leery of another 1948 style championship
tournament. There is so much
Anti-Kasparov sentiment, that I fear the players would conspire
against him. That’s what
happened to Bobby Fischer in Curacao in 1962.
I think Kramnik and
Kasparov should respect each other and remember
that 2 million dollar
payday that awaits them. I
think this match up would be very exciting to see again.
Kramnik is still
under Kasparov showdown. Kramnik’s reign still gets measured up against
Kasparov’s reign. This certainly is an unfair comparison. We may never
see another greater champion like Kasparov in our life times. Kramnik has
a spotty record as a world champion. Petrosian and Spassky did not dominate
as world champions either.
However Kramnik is having a very good year in 2004.
He also is doing a good job promoting the game.
Should
Kramnik retain his title, I would like to see him promote the game
around the world. I would like to see Kramnik visit the US.
As far as 2004 is concerned, Kramnik should get high marks for his
tournament results, for promoting the game, and for organizing a world
championship match with Peter Leko. Should Peter Leko beat Kramnik
in this match, Peter can hold his head up high, as the 15th Chess World
Champion.
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