Burning down the house…
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
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With just weeks before the start of the 81st FIDE Congress and the 39th Chess Olympiad in Khanty Mansiysk, the Karpov2010 campaign for the FIDE presidency has decided to play its last card, betting everything on some dramatic and theatrical government intervention against the democratically elected Argentine chess federation (FADA). No doubt anticipating a decision of condemnation towards the behaviour of the Karpov campaign by the Lausaune Court of Arbitration in just 10 days time, Karpov is now committed to play the biggest bluff of his life. Is Karpov really hoping for a rupture in FIDE? Can we expect things to turn real nasty this week? Below are the days events, in chronological order, as they develop.
Karpov’s bluff’
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FADA web site hacked?! (6.am)
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Fun and games? OR highstakes political intrigue? Argentine chess wakes up this monday morning with an item on the official page of FADA, the Argentine Chess Federation, that is clearly opposite the decision taken several months ago– by the leadership itself of FADA–to support Ilyumzhinov for re-election at the upcoming FIDE Congress.
What is happening? There is no news anywhere in the Argentine press about this! Can it be more than a mere coincidence that Garry Kasparov has been in Argentina this past weekend? More news later today.
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POST SCRIPT: (8.am)
The leading Argentine webpage, ajedrez-de-estilo, qualified the sudden and unexpected appearance of the above item on the Argentine federation’s webpage as ”a bad joke” . The site has demanded an immediate explanation from FADA.
” FADA ahora apoya a Karpov ?”
Con sorpresa puede verse hoy en el sitio oficial de la Federacion Argentina de Ajedrez (FADA), que han suprimido las fotos y mensajes de apoyo al actual presidente de la FIDE, Kirsan Illyumzhinov, y en cambio aparece muy claramente que….apoyan a Anatoly Karpov? Se trata de una broma de mal gusto? Han decidido sus dirigentes cambiar de postura radicalmente con tal de mantenerse en sus puestos? Como fuese, FADA debe dar una clara explicacion publica al respecto.
http://www.ajedrez-de-estilo.com.ar/ade/archives/00009954.htm
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LATEST DEVELOPMENT
(9.am)
The intrigue continues! Has the Argentine government put pressure on FADA to change its support from Ilyumzhinov to Karpov? According to the following letter–allegedly written by the FADA president– just minutes ago published on the FADA webpage, a hurried meeting between FADA, at the request of the Secretary of Sport of the Province of Buenos Aires, and Kasparov, representative of Karpov’s campaign, was held this weekend…AND PRESTO (!)…FADA changed its support to Karpov! Here is the letter. No doubt a huge scandal is about to break loose…ALL previous references to the enthusiastic support for Ilyumzhinov have been erased (!) from the federation’s website, recalling the sudden and dramatic political disappearances during the times of Stalin…
Buenos Aires, 5 de Septiembre de 2010
Comunicado de la
Federación Argentina de Ajedrez
A la Comunidad Ajedrecista Nacional e Internacional
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LATEST DEVELOPMENT
(9.am)
The intrigue continues! Has the Argentine government put pressure on FADA to change its support from Ilyumzhinov to Karpov? According to the following letter–allegedly written by the FADA president– just minutes ago published on the FADA webpage, a hurried meeting between FADA, at the request of the Secretary of Sport of the Province of Buenos Aires, and Kasparov, representative of Karpov’s campaign, was held this weekend…AND PRESTO (!)…FADA changed its support to Karpov! Here is the letter. No doubt a huge scandal is about to break loose…ALL previous references to the enthusiastic support for Ilyumzhinov have been erased (!) from the federation’s website, recalling the sudden and dramatic political disappearances during the times of Stalin…
Kasparov with the Secretary of Sport
Comunicado de la
Federación Argentina de Ajedrez
A la Comunidad Ajedrecista Nacional e Internacional
”Por intermedio del presente mensaje tengo el agrado de dirigirme a Uds. a efectos de poner en vuestro conocimiento los avances en las gestiones desarrolladas ante las principales autoridades nacionales y provinciales, en función de las reuniones celebradas en los últimos días.
Como es de vuestro conocimiento, en uso de las potestades estatutarias, esta conducción ha logrado configurar una posición clara, razonable y convincente en el concierto internacional, interpretando la necesidad de asumir un papel trascendental en cada uno de los ámbitos de la propia Federación Internacional de Ajedrez (F.I.D.E.), asumiendo con destacado protagonismo la defensa de intereses públicos de envergadura y haciendo valer la tradición ajedrecística que se vive en estas latitudes y que concentran la atención de las principales figuras deportivas, políticas y económicas del planeta.
Con esfuerzo y dedicación, durante esta década de gobierno, trabajando en equipo hemos logrado avanzar en diferentes campos, permitiendo el desarrollo ajedrecístico en nuestro país, generando cuadros técnicos que merecen el reconocimiento internacional. Dicho desarrollo se evidencia en la organización de eventos ajedrecísticos de primera calidad, en los diferentes segmentos competitivos, el reconocimiento del ajedrez como herramienta de inclusión social, como variable elemental en la búsqueda de calidad y excelencia académica, la generación e implementación de normativas que regulan el crecimiento de la disciplina, apelando al fortalecimiento institucional de las entidades de base que permita el progreso de la entidad rectora nacional; la histórica participación del país en cada una de las Olimpiadas desarrolladas, canalizando el reconocimiento económico indispensable en la loable tarea de jerarquizar el ajedrez formativo y competitivo.
Todos y cada uno de estos objetivos los hemos logrado trabajando unidos, debatiendo las diferentes posiciones en espacios institucionales con diálogo fructífero, apoyando a las autoridades continentales pese a la indiferencia de los dirigentes centrales, evidenciadas en el débil compromiso de atender a los reclamos económicos que esta entidad ha gestionado en reiteradas oportunidades, observando la indefinición de la mayor preocupación de esta conducción: la histórica deuda que hemos heredado y que continúa agotando los recursos económicos genuinos del ajedrez argentino.
Asimismo, hemos observado que sí existe voluntad política y apoyo económico por parte de F.I.D.E. en canalizar estos acuerdos en aquellas naciones que han evidenciado un camino sinuoso y errático en el desarrollo del juego ciencia, menoscabando nuestros esfuerzos en la construcción de una nueva identidad para el ajedrez mundial, entendiéndolo como espacio de encuentro real entre las personas, sin distinción de género, status económico, filiación ideológica y/o religiosa. Ajedrez como instancia de encuentro inter generacional que permita crear nuevos futuros.
President of FADA with FIDE President Ilyumzhinov just weeks ago
Como es de público conocimiento hemos recibido y conversado con el Sr. Kirzán Ilyumzhinov , Presidente de la F.I.D.E., apoyando su candidatura, convencidos de una adecuada lectura política e institucional, sosteniendo la misma visión que le ha permitido a nuestra entidad sobrevivir a las dificultades y contingencias reinantes, continuando con el mandato histórico de fortalecer a la F.A.D.A. como entidad rectora del juego ciencia en el país. Corresponde señalar que hemos aguardado que el equipo de campaña del Sr. Karpov se contactara con la F.A.D.A. a efectos de conocer y someter a consideración de los dirigentes y representantes de la comunidad ajedrecística, su plataforma y programa de gobierno. Recién el sábado 4 de septiembre hemos aceptado participar de una reunión, a pedido de la Secretaría de Deporte de la Provincia de Buenos Aires , con el Sr. Kasparov, máximo referente del equipo de trabajo del Sr. Karpov.
Reconociendo y destacando el apoyo que las autoridades nacionales y y provinciales continuamente le han brindado al ajedrez argentino, luego de analizar en profundidad el estado de situación y las consecuencias a corto y largo plazo que se desprenden del posicionamiento adoptado tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, generando acuerdos con las máximas autoridades provinciales y nacionales, la Mesa Ejecutiva de la F.A.D.A. ha decidido reconsiderar su posición en la próxima Asamblea F.I.D.E. retirando la nominación al Sr. Kirán Nikoláyevich Ilyumzhinov y reorientando el voto argentino a favor del Sr. Karpov.
Convencidos que las gestiones celebradas con las máximas autoridades han sido abordados con convicción y racionalidad, reconociendo el esfuerzo de los dirigentes que acompañan el camino del desarrollo de este apasionante juego, con indispensables intervenciones y esperanzador esfuerzo, sentimos el orgullo de comunicar que hemos defendido, en función de las posibilidades, nuestra misión de desarrollar el juego en todo el territorio nacional.”
Fraternalmente.
Ramón Nicolás V. Barrera
PRESIDENTE F.A.D.A.
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Kirsan Ilyumzhinov did not waste much time to make a public declaration in response to today’s events. On the official campaign site the following declaration was issued. In essence, Ilyumzhinov is calling for calm and for the closing of ranks in the wake of the general chaos created by Karpov’s campaign. (noon)
”As you are aware, on the 29th of September 2010 in Khanty-Mansiysk the FIDE Presidential elections will take place, during the 81st FIDE Congress.
There are two candidates – citizens of Russia –the incumbent FIDE President and ex-World Champion Anatoly Karpov. To date, 93 out of 167 National Federations with voting rights have openly expressed their support to me. At the electoral site of my opponent only flags of 23 countries can be found.
I would like to stress that I have been always a protagonist of chess being beyond politics, for our National Federations to have full freedom in their activities, based on the principles of democracy.
At the same time, unfortunately, from the very start, the electoral campaign of Anatoly Karpov and leaders of his headquarters Garry Kasparov and Richard Conn, has become a political confrontation. From the very beginning their actions have been destructive, aimed at the schism of the chess world and National Federations to serve their political ambitions, which have nothing to do with chess life.
We have witnessed this in Russia when before the opening of the Russian Chess Federation Congress, 43 Regional federations openly expressed their support to me, while Anatoly Karpov has had only 5 of the regions to support him. Nevertheless, through an open violation of the Federation’s Statutes, demagogy and even open pressure over the Supervisory Board members, they made an effort to paralyze the work of the RCF. The Chairman of the RCF Supervisory Board A. Dvorkovich has twice informed FIDE on the RCF position in respect of support to me as the FIDE Presidential candidate. However, Anatoly Karpov and his headquarters are continuously misinforming the public, stating that it is Karpov who is an official candidate from Russia.
Such destructive tactics, where “any means to an end”, is used by A. Karpov, G. Kasparov and R. Conn in many countries of the world, including those which officially and openly expressed their support at the forthcoming elections.
Especially vividly it is seen in some Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Peru etc), where G. Kasparov and R. Conn have organized open pressure to the local Federations and their Presidents from the part of state bodies.
There is an extensive campaign in local media, designed to force the Presidents who are not “disagreeable”, to resign. This looks particularly strange, considering the fact that G. Kasparov feels that he is an adherent of democratic principles.
From my side, I would like to assure everyone that National Federations and their respective Presidents will not be left without our support.
For the record, as a Russian citizen, it is not pleasant for me to see and read some interviews of G. Kasparov to foreign media, where he is expressing open aggression towards the country and its leader. Here we mean the country which has provided Mr. Kasparov with shelter and protection during his difficult moments, and which has contributed immensely to his personality growth and professional success.
The inept and destructive actions of G. Kasparov in the political arena hugely damage the international chess movement and Russia’s prestige at the world arena.
In the light of above, it is extremely strange that Anatoly Karpov has picked as his accomplice and is expressing the interests of a person with such a record of destruction of all the organizations and projects where he has taken part. The chess world does remember his break away from FIDE in 1993, creation of Grandmasters Association, his efforts to create alternative World Championships under “Brain Games” patronage etc.
Now Mr. Kasparov once again is trying to split the chess world, bringing chaos and upset into our chess family. As a result, in place of an electoral campaign, aimed at the competiveness of electoral programmes, ideas of future development of our Federation and chess as a whole, we see and hear a set of populist rhetoric and faultfinding. Their entire electoral campaign is reduced to attempts of political pressure, split of National Federations and personal insults.
I would like to warn you that FIDE is not a place for political showdown, and, as other International Sports Federations, we shall not allow any direct interference of state bodies into the matters of National Federations.
We shall not allow destruction of our united chess world and we leave a right for ourselves for any appropriate actions!”
Gens Una Sumus! We are one family!
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
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FIDE President
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SPRAGGETT ON CHESS