Posted on 09/29/2006 4:12:22 PM PDT by melt
ELISTA, Russia - The future of the world chess championship was in question Friday when a player did not show up for the fifth game and threatened to withdraw from the match after he was accused of cheating and locked out of his private bathroom.
Vladimir Kramnik, a Russian, was accused by the manager for his opponent, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, of taking too many bathroom breaks — an apparent suggestion that he was secretly using a technical device or a computer program to help him with his moves.
Kramnik, the Classical World Champion, had been leading Topalov, the World Chess Champion, 3-1 after four games in the 12-game match — the sixth attempt to reunify the chess world since then-world champion Garry Kasparov broke away from the FIDE chess governing body in 1993.
But Kramnik boycotted game five Friday, angered by an Appeals Committee decision to lock the private bathrooms for both players and insist that each use a common bathroom for the rest of the match. Topalov was also unhappy with the decision; his manager said it would not prevent Kramnik from cheating since he would still be alone in the lavatory.
The committee decision followed a protest by Topalov's manager, Silvio Danailov, who viewed videotapes of the players' relaxation rooms behind the stage. There is no video camera in the bathrooms themselves.
"The World Champion Veselin Topalov is outraged by the suspicious behavior of his opponent Vladimir Kramnik, who actually takes his most significant decisions in a toilet," Danailov said. "During every game, he visited the relaxation room 25 times on average and the bathroom more than 50 times."
The Topalov team demanded that the committee stop the use of the relaxation rooms and adjacent private bathrooms, have an arbiter accompany the players to the bathrooms, and present the videotapes from the relaxation rooms to journalists.
Kramnik later protested the committee's ruling in an open letter to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, president of FIDE, saying the decision to lock the private bathrooms "violated both the rules and regulations." He threatened to withdraw from the match.
"The decision to grant Mr. Danailov full access to videotapes is incorrect and outrageous," Kramnik added. "I did not sign the contract for acting in a reality show. This goes against all ethical norms and violates my privacy."
Topalov's team, however, was also not satisfied with the Appeals Committee's decision — and submitted another protest.
"The ruling in its present form is not satisfactory to us since it practically does not result in any change. Mr. Kramnik will be able to visit the new bathroom an unlimited number of times without being subject to further control."
"If the match were to continue, the World Champion would refrain from shaking hands with Mr. Kramnik before the games and would not take part in joint press conferences with him. Veselin Topalov will make statements for the media separately."
Kramnik accused the members of the Appeals Committee of supporting Topalov. He also said now that the match has begun, the conditions should not be changed.
"I am ready to continue the match and play the fifth game tomorrow on the conditions that were accepted prior to the start of the match. My dignity does not allow me to stand this situation," Kramnik said.
The match was scheduled to conclude Oct. 13. The two 31-year-old players were to share the tax-free $1 million prize no matter who wins the title.
"Chess Ubification" sounds painful.
I employ exactly that same strategy during a brisk tic tac toe match.
There is a preview button.
Ouch!
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble...
First, I mistype the title. Then, I find out that it's already been posted. What else can go rong?
You could get a ring to go with the rong!!!
Check them both for steroids.
Chess ubification takes a nasty turb. You would know, especially if you've ever turbed to ubification.
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