The WC title will be played in a museum

Vishy Anand and Boris Gelfand to play at a museum

August 18, 2011

Vladimir Barsky, International Chess Master, specially for RIR



Chess never ceases to surprise us. Everybody and their mom complains that the game is getting younger all the time, with people becoming grand masters before they are out of kindergarten, and players over forty are duking it out for the world championship title.



Incidentally, this is just the second time in the history of chess that this has happened. The first occasion was more than a hundred years ago, when Germany’s Emanuel Lasker, 40, and Siegbert Tarrasch, 46, competed for the crown in 1908.

41-year old Viswanathan Anand has been at the top of the chess world for twenty years now. Mysteriously, there has been a “Big Three” during all those years, with Anand invariably among them. At first it was Kasparov, Karpov, and Anand, then Kasparov, Anand, and Kramnik, then Anand, Kramnik, and Topalov, and now Anand, Carlsen, and Aronian. When he finished his professional career in 2005, Kasparov told Anand: “Now I’m leaving you in charge!” Kramnik also announced several days ago that he is planning to hang up the gloves, that is, put away the chessboard, but Anand is still playing and winning!

Anand is a unique world champion, the only one to have won the title in three different formats, including the knockout, round robin, and two match wins against Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov. He is also unique in that he has always avoided the squabbles surrounding chess and has never tried to claim any special treatment for himself. That has earned him the respect of colleagues and chess fans alike.

His opponent in the May 2012 match will be Boris Gelfand, an Israeli Grandmaster. He has commented jokingly on the fact that he’s a year and a half older than the champion: “Anand’s dream has come true: He’ll be the youngest player in the World Championship. He’d almost lost hope!”

More here.

World Championships Matches - Press Release

PRESS RELEASE



The Federation Internationale des Echecs is pleased to announce that following the evaluation of the bids for the World Chess Championship Match 2012 and the recommendations by the World Championship and Olympiad Commission, it has awarded the organization of the match to the Russian Chess Federation.



The match will be held in May 2012 in Skolkovo, Moscow, Russia and offers the World Champion Vishwanthanan Anand from India, and the Challenger Boris Gelfand from Israel, a prize fund of 2,550,000 US dollars.



FIDE thanked the Russian Chess Federation for its winning bid and will work together with the RCF to ensure that the match is organized under the best conditions for both players.

FIDE President showed his appreciation for the significant commitment that the Russian leadership was also making to introduce a national chess in schools program at regional and Federal levels, with substantial investment to be made in this key development area.



The FIDE President, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed his gratitude also to the All India Chess Federation who worked very hard to put in a very competitive bid with the support of the Government of Tamil Nadu.



In view of the commitment shown by the AICF and the appreciation of FIDE towards the development of chess in India, the AICF would be given a first option of three months following the match in Moscow, to make a proposal for the organization of the World Chess Championship Match 2013.



FIDE is further pleased to announce that the Women’s World Chess Championship Match between Women World Champion Hou Yifan from China and the Challenger Humpy Koneru from India, will be held in Tirana, Albania in November 2011 for a prize fund of 200,000 euros.

Svidler leads Russian Superfinal by a full point

Round 5 results

Timofeev, Artyom	- Svidler, Peter	½
Nepomniachtchi, Ian	- Morozevich, Alexander	1-0
Galkin, Alexander	- Karjakin, Sergey	½
Grischuk, Alexander	- Kramnik, Vladimir	0-1

Official website: http://www.russiachess.org



Standings after round 5

1.	Svidler, Peter	g	2739	4
2.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	2694	3
3.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	2788	2½
4.	Grischuk, Alexander	g	2746	2½
5.	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	2711	2½
6.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	2781	2½
7.	Galkin, Alexander	g	2598	2
8.	Timofeev, Artyom	g	2665	1

Moscow edged Chennai for the big match

Moscow outbid Chennai: FIDE



Explaining the circumstances that led to the World chess championship match between Grandmaster V. Anand and challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel being allotted to Moscow, FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, in a letter to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, said: “after due evaluation of respective bids, we have awarded the event to the Russian Chess Federation which had bid just under $400,000 more than the AICF.”



It may be recalled that Ms Jayalalithaa had readily consented to organise the event, and even sanctioned an amount of $4.4 million which included $2.25m as prize money, when a FIDE delegation led by Mr. Ilyumzhinov called on her to discuss the possibility of Chennai hosting this prestigious match.



In his letter, the FIDE president also noted that he was impressed with the Chief Minister's interest in sports, and chess in particular, and offered the 2013 World championship match to Chennai.



An AICF press release said this was perhaps the first time that FIDE was offering a title match to any one directly.



Source: http://www.thehindu.com

It's officially in Moscow

Anand - Gelfand 2012 to take place in Moscow, Russia (ALL INFO CONFIRMED)



Anand - Gelfand World Chess Championship awarded to Russia

The World Chess Championship 2012 between the defending World Champion Viswanathan Anand and the challenger from the Candidates Matches Boris Gelfand will take place in May 2012 in Moscow, Russia.

In an official press release distributed by FIDE on August 8th we read: "The Federation Internationale des Echecs is pleased to announce that following the evaluation of the bids for the World Chess Championship Match 2012 and the recommendations by the World Championship and Olympiad Commission, it has awarded the organization of the match to the Russian Chess Federation. The match will be held in May 2012 in Moscow, Russia and offers the World Champion Vishwanthanan Anand from India, and the Challenger Boris Gelfand from Israel, a prize fund of 2,550,000 US dollars." (see below full press release August 8th)

The news about the possibility the World Chess Championship 2012 to be in Moscow first broke on the pages of Chessdom in the end of June. It was accompanied by a possible interest by India and Israel. The interest of India materialized as half a month later India made a strong bid to host the event, while Israel remained only as rumor. However, India's bid quickly lost pace after the deadline announced by FIDE, and after evaluation of the bids Russia and Moscow remained as the chosen venue for the WCC 2012.

As confirmed by FIDE, the prize fund of both bids was above the required 1 million. Thus, the driving force behind choosing Russia and Moscow to host Anand - Gelfand has been the further organization details proposed by the bidders for the WCC.

The news for the winning bid of Moscow coincides with the start of the Russian Super Final in the city. The last world championships organized in Moscow were the 1985 match between Kasparov and Karpov, and the 2002 knockout World Championship won by Ponomariov.

August 9th announcement, press conference, and details

After publishing the initial press release, FIDE informed Chessdom.com that there will be changes in the upcoming hours. Our sources confirmed that the discussion and changes made in the press release could be regarding the option given to India to host the WCC 2013 (the host city Moscow and the general details were not questioned).

The August 9th press conference started at 12:00 in Moscow. Aruna Anand, wife and managed of Viswanathan Anand, has informed that they agree the match to take place in Moscow. Aruna and Anand are happy with the prize fund and the venue chosen. This information was confirmed by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov for Sport Express journalist Y. Vassilev. The FIDE President also confirmed that he has the agreement of the challenger Boris Gelfand as well, and with that there are no more obstacles for the match to take place in Moscow, as announced in the first press release from yesterday.

The prize fund of 2 550 000 USD has also been confirmed, as well as the information about the Yifan Hou - Koneru match published the day before.

Update: the new press release contains details from the press conference, announcing Skolkovo as the playing hall, and praising the efforts of the government. India is given the option of WCC 2013, that was also confirmed at the press conference.

India gets 2013 World Championship instead of the upcoming one

Chennai gets World Chess Championship match

Press Trust Of India

Updated Aug 11, 2011 at 07:38pm IST



Chennai: In an apparent bid to placate India after Chennai was deprived of the World Chess Championship Match between Vishwanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand of Israel next year, the game's world governing body has now offered the 2013 edition of the prestigious event to the city.



In a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said the world body would want All India Chess Federation to host the 2013 Match.



"This is to recall that the FIDE delegation headed by President called on the Chief Minister for the organisation of this match at Chennai. The Hon'ble Cheif Minister was spontaneous in giving her consent to organise this match at Chennai and sanctioned an amount of USD 4.4 million towards expenses which included USD 2.25 million as prize money," Ilyumzhinov said in the letter released by AICF Vice-President D V Sundar.



"However, the match was allotted to Moscow as their bid towards prize money was USD 2.55 million. Impressed by the Chief Minister's love for the game of chess and graciously agreeing to his request, the FIDE President has offered the 2013 match to the All India Chess Federation," according to the letter.



The FIDE president said "to our knowledge this is the first time ever that FIDE has offered a title match to anyone directly."



Chennai was tipped to host the Championship Match and the chess fraternity was waiting in anticipation that world champion Anand will defend his title at his home city. The match was later given to Moscow, apparently because the Russian capital had offered more prize money.



Source: http://ibnlive.in.com

Title defense in Moscow

World champion Anand to defend title in Russia

Hari Hara NandananHari Hara Nandanan, TNN

Aug 10, 2011, 01.41AM IST



CHENNAI: The Federation Internationale des Echecs (Fide) has allotted the 2012 world chess championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand of Israel to Russia.



The Fide announcement has come as a shock to Indian in general and Chennai in particular as the Tamil Nadu government had given the financial backing to All India Chess Federation (AICF) to organise the match in Anand's hometown.



It is learnt that the Indian federation's bid of $2.25 million lost out to Russia's winning offer of $2.55 million. "Yeah, we are a bit disappointed but then Fide has given us the option of hosting the 2013 world title match," said DV Sundar, Fide vice-president.



"I am looking at the positive. This gives us more time to plan our preparations. Let us hope Anand wins the match in Russia and play in India next time," added Sundar.



The match will be held in May 2012 in Moscow, Russia .Fide president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed his gratitude AICF which worked very hard to put in a very competitive bid with the support of the government of Tamil Nadu.



The challenger, Boris Gelfand, liked the idea of playing the match in Moscow: "I wouldn't say that I will be playing in Moscow like I was at home, but I'll feel very comfortable in the Russian capital. I'm sure Anand will like it there too. The world champion has many fans in the Russian capital," the challenger was quoted as saying. Anand was not available for comment.



While announcing the venue for the 2012 match, Ilyumzhinov said AICF would be given a first option of three months following the match in Moscow, to make a proposal for the organization of the world chess championship match 2013.



Fide also announced the women's world chess championship match between women world champion Hou Yifan of China and the challenger Koneru Humpy of India, will be held in Tirana, Albania in November 2011 for a prize fund of 200,000 euros.



Under the terms of the tender, the organisers of the match must guarantee a minimum purse of one million euros and transfer a further 200,000 in dues to Fide.



Moscow was the first to make its bid back in June. "A serious sponsor has indicated an interest in the match between Anand and Gelfand being held in Moscow," said Ilya Levitov, head of the Russian Chess Federation.



Initially, the benefactor's name was kept secret, but later the Russian press said the man who is ready to provide $2.5 million for the world chess title match is Andrei Filatov, co-owner of the N-Trans Group of companies. Having a Candidate Master title himself, he has recently been acting as a chess patron. He paid for the restoration of a monument to Alexander Alekhine in Paris.



The last time Moscow hosted a world championship in chess was in 1985 between Gary Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. However, Russia later held the Fide knockout world championship in 2002.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Breaking News: WC to be held in Moscow, not Chennai

Anand - Gelfand 2012 to take place in Moscow, Russia (update 3)

Anand - Gelfand World Chess Championship awarded to Russia



The World Chess Championship 2012 between the defending World Champion Viswanathan Anand and the challenger from the Candidates Matches Boris Gelfand will take place in May 2012 in Moscow, Russia.



In an official press release distributed by FIDE we read: "The Federation Internationale des Echecs is pleased to announce that following the evaluation of the bids for the World Chess Championship Match 2012 and the recommendations by the World Championship and Olympiad Commission, it has awarded the organization of the match to the Russian Chess Federation. The match will be held in May 2012 in Moscow, Russia and offers the World Champion Vishwanthanan Anand from India, and the Challenger Boris Gelfand from Israel, a prize fund of 2,550,000 US dollars."



The news about the possibility the World Chess Championship 2012 to be in Moscow first broke on the pages of Chessdom in the end of June. It was accompanied by a possible interest by India and Israel. The interest of India materialized as half a month later India made a strong bid to host the event, while Israel remained only as rumor. However, India's bid quickly lost pace after the deadline announced by FIDE, and after evaluation of the bids Russia and Moscow remained as the chosen venue for the WCC 2012.



As confirmed by FIDE, the prize fund of both bids was above the required 1 million. Thus, the driving force behind choosing Russia and Moscow to host Anand - Gelfand has been the further organization details proposed by the bidders for the WCC.



The news for the winning bid of Moscow coincides with the start of the Russian Super Final in the city. The last world championships organized in Moscow were the 1985 match between Kasparov and Karpov, and the 2002 knockout World Championship won by Ponomariov.



Full press release published below and more information to follow, stay tuned with Chessdom.com!