Election news: Yazici on the attack

by ChessBase
5/22/2010 – The battle for FIDE presidency is getting more vicious. Leading the battle on the side of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is the President of the Turkish Chess Federation, Ali Nihat Yazici, who has published a number of pieces on the TCF web site against challenger Anatoly Karpov. In his latest piece Yazici states his reasons for switching from opponent to friend and ally of the incumbent President. Excerpts and links.

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The Turkish Chess Federation website writes:

Svedok publishes serious news versus Karpov
The Serbian News Magazine Svedok has published a hard copy magazine, and as tradition there was chess part. But, 720th version of Svedok with this magazine gives very important news about Karpov and Children Olympiad organised under his name many years. The author is famous journalist and also chess person Vladan Dinic. To go to Svedok online for archive. We hope that this news is not correct.

The full text of the Svedok article has been translated and published on the TCF site here. It starts with the lines "Simply unbelievable: is it that Karpov and Kasparov were fake ’political opponents’ before while they were, admittedly, charging appropriately for their love and loyalty to ’their’ political party all the time, or is it that the position of the World Chess Federation President is so attractive that any kind of coalition is acceptable if it brings with it a position, which in turn brings influence, and with influence comes money...?!"

The very extensive article continues with a list of financial transgressions Karpov is accused to have committed in Serbia, mainly in children and youth events. It contains subtitles like "The 'colossal' experience in Serbia"; "After Montenegro, return to Zemun!"; "Scam of the decade in Banja Luka"; "Bjelica 'forgotten' in Novi Sad"; . The TCF gives the entire piece in Serbian and English, in HTML, PDF and Word documents. "If Karpov side want to answer it we are ready to publish here."

"Learning from Mistakes (Right Move?!)
(Did I shift or not?) – Do you want to learn what happened in 2006? Read it!"

This is the title of another remarkable piece by Ali Nihat Yazici in which the President of the Turkish Chess Federation chief describes the switch he made from opposing FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the 2005 election campaign (Yazici ran on the "Right Move" ticket together with Dutch businessman Bessel Kok) to a loyal supporter of Ilyumzhinov.


Yazici and Bessel Kok during the Right Move campaign in 2005


Yazici and Ilyumzhinov at the World Youth Chess Olympiad in Agri 2006

"Why did I write this article?" asks Yazici. "From outside, as I was in 2006, there are so many rumours about FIDE management. But believe me when you are in, you understand that 100% of those rumours is rubbish. During the last two weeks I spoke with some delegates, they are afraid of Karpov’s allegations that many people in FIDE are corrupted. That was the reason, when I published my open letter, I requested Mr. Karpov, ‘give me a fact! Or apology!’ We did not see any of these proposed replies."

Reply by the French Chess Federation

The President of the French Chess Federation, Jean-Claude Moingt, has replied to Ali Nihat Yazici, confirming that his Federation is "one hundred percent backing Anatoli Karpov." Moingt continues:

When Ali Yazici was supporting Bessel Kok for the 2006 FIDE elections in Torino, he was not so kind towards Kirsan and the FIDE Management… We do not want to reproduce here the words that have been pronounced at this moment, neither do we wish to spend time on those that have been written. We will only focus on the obvious switch in Ali’s assessment of the positions inside FIDE, and his ability to have a different look on people, depending on circumstances…

As far as we are concerned, our opinion has not changed, and we do believe that Anatoli Karpov is the one who can lead a team to a successful change for chess. And, as Winston Churchill used to say: “You do not solve problems with people who have created them.”

Full text in PDF


ChessBase reports on the 2010 FIDE Elections

Karpov on his FIDE presidential campaign
13.03.2010 – Yesterday the twelfth World Champion Anatoly Karpov announced that he was running for FIDE President. Today he addressed the extraordinary meeting of the European Chess Union (ECU), which was meeting during the European Individual Championship in Rijeka. Karpov had hash words for the current FIDE leadership and outlined his own program for change in FIDE. Video interview by Europe Echecs.

Karpov to run for FIDE President
13.03.2010 – Fifteen years ago Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov was elected President of the World Chess Organisation. At the next election during the General Assembly of the FIDE Congress, which will be held during the 39th Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk in September this year, he faces a challenge by former World Champion Anatoly Karpov. Press release.

Video report: Yazici and Danailov running for ECU President
14.03.2010 – So far two candidates have declared their intention to run for President of the European Chess Union: the President of the Turkish Chess Federation Ali Nihat Yazici, and the Bulgarian IM and manager Silvio Danailov. GM Robert Fontaine from Europe Echecs spoke to both candidates. Danailov also revealed that at the World Championship match against Anand Topalov will not accept or offer draws.

FIDE Elections: Turkish Chess Federation supports Ilyumzhinov
25.03.2010 – During the 39th Chess Olympiad, which takes place in September in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, the elections for FIDE President will be held. Two candidates are running: the incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov seeking reelection, and a challenger, the twelfth World Champion Anatoly Karpov. The Turkish Chess Federation has announced its support for the former. Press release.

FIDE Elections: Support for Ilyumzhinov
26.03.2010 – Two days ago we published a statement by the Turkish Chess Federation supporting the candidacy of the President of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is seeking re-election, during the General Assembly in Khanty-Mansiysk this September, for the term 2010-2014. Four FIDE Continental Presidents have joined the TCF in declaring support for the incumbent. Public statements.

German Chess Federation nominates Karpov for FIDE Presidency
12.04.2010 – One month ago Anatoly Karpov announced his candidacy for President of the World Chess Federation (elections in September). The former World Champion was nominated by the French and Swiss Federations. Now the President of the German Chess Federation, Robert von Weizsäcker, has come forward with a nomination and unanimous support. Press release and information.

FIDE Elections: Karpov's mission statement
15.04.2010 – "After a lifetime dedicated to playing and promoting the game of chess, 12th World Champion Anatoly Karpov is running for the office of President of the International Chess Federation." This is the beginning of a formal announcement, released by Karpov's New York campaign headquarters. It outlines the main goals and themes of the campaign and is available in Russian, English and Spanish.

Russian Chess Fed nominates Ilyumzhinov – sort of
22.04.2010 – A candidate for FIDE Presidency needs the nomination of his Federation, and the Russian Chess Federation has announced its support for the incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Does that end rival Anatoly Karpov's chances for the post, as one commentator suggests? Not quite. The nomination appears to have conditions, and Karpov has struck back with a fighting statement on his new campaign site.

David Kaplan's revolution in chess
04.05.2010 – 200-300 million people play chess, one million in a professional environment – but the interest is not increasing. David Kaplan, CEO for Development in FIDE, wants to change that, amongst other things with $64 million as prizes for online chess. If he doesn't succeed in rebranding chess in the next five years, the Israeli business tycoon says, no one will for the next fifty. Interview.

FIDE Election: Yazici to Karpov – show me the facts
06.05.2010 – Recently Anatoly Karpov, candidate for the Presidency of FIDE, suggested that the incumbent President had yet to receive official support from any major chess federation. Wrong, says Ali Nihat Yazici, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had received support from his, the Turkish Chess Federation. Meanwhile Ilyumzhinov has moved into the international news spotlight with a story of alien abduction.

FIDE Elections: the match for FIDE President heats up
08.05.2010 – After publishing an interview with FIDE’s Development CEO David Kaplan, we were contacted by Karpov’s campaign headquarters in New York. They responded to some of Kaplan’s statements and presented the case for change in FIDE. They are also preparing a fundraiser in New York with two former world champions and a near certain future one. Can you guess who?

Breaking news: Karpov nominated by Russian Chess Federation
14.05.2010 – Three weeks ago the chairman of the supervisory board of RCF, Arkady Dvorkovich, stated that the Federation had nominated incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov as its candidate for FIDE presidency. A quick response by rival Anatoly Karpov said this was a unilateral decision by an Ilyumzhinov ally, not the formal vote that was required. That took place today and nominated Karpov. Details.

Ilyumzhinov: 'I will run for FIDE President once again'
16.05.2010 – On Friday we reported that the Russian Chess Federation had nominated Anatoly Karpov as its candidate for FIDE Presidency by a quorum vote of 17/32. The incumbent, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said that this "decision" was shrouded in clear deceit – "it makes a mockery of Karpov and his team, who believe they are capable of running a future FIDE." Open letter.
 

Big Karpov fund-raiser in New York
18.05.2010 – Karpov, Kasparov and Carlsen – two former and one very likely future world champion – took part in a launch party and fundraiser in the spectacular Trump SoHo Hotel in New York. It is for Karpov's bid to become President of FIDE. There were chess games as well as entertainment and champagne, which introduced a slight complication in the festivities. Pictures and video.

Fundraiser in New York – echo in the press
19.05.2010 – A one-night binge in the Trump SoHo Hotel brought chess into the highlights of the international press. Karpov, Kasparov and Carlsen [memo: he must change that to Karlsen!] generated a large number of international reports, almost outshining the World Chess Championship in Sofia. Not unexpectedly the stories reflect the challenger's side of the ticket. Press links.

Breaking news: Kremlin seizes Russian Chess Federation
21.05.2010 – Last week the RCF nominated Anatoly Karpov as their candidate for the Presidency of FIDE. This was verbally contested by the supporters of incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Today black suited men from the private security firm “Peper” arrived at the Federation’s offices, kicked out the regular security guards and sealed off some rooms in the building. Report in True/Slant + Karpov's reaction.


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