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.

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

India: We are thoroughly disappointed

Was India's World Chess Championship bid price leaked?

Hari Hara NandananHari Hara Nandanan, TNN | Aug 11, 2011, 12.46AM IST



CHENNAI: Has the world chess federation (Fide) tricked India into a future deal when it finalised the bid for the title match between defending champion Viswanathan Anand and challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel in 2012? The answer seems to be both yes and no as the Chennai bid has fallen flat in front of Moscow, which got the Fide vote on Tuesday.



Technically, Fide is right in allotting the match to Russia, as its bid was better than that of Chennai. But there is at least one section from the Indian bidding group that is unhappy over the way the world body coaxed the Indian organisers into believing that their bid had all but won the deal. "We are thoroughly disappointed," said All India Chess Federation president JCD Prabhakar. "Madam (chief minister J Jayalalithaa) was so gracious to release the money for the conduct of the match."



Curiously, Russia had put up a bid initially for the match and then revised it after sensing Chennai would better it in the last minute. This has come as a big surprise to the chess fraternity in general, especially as it came at 11.59 pm on July 31, one minute before the deadline. "This was a big setback to us," said Prabhakar. However, he refrained from commenting further on Fide's decision.



AICF secretary Bharat Singh told TOI from New Delhi that Russia was well within its right to revise the bid, but he too sounded unhappy with the way the bidding procedure went. "We don't run the Fide," he said, when asked whether the world body had fooled India in the bidding process.



The big question is, whether the Russian federation had got wind of the actual amount of the Indian bid so that it could better that in the last minute? Someone had known the Indian bid price and if that is the case, who is the black sheep? This has no answer as the envelopes are sealed when they are given to Fide and there is no chance, in normal circumstances, for the amount to be leaked.



However, the revised figure from the Russian Chess Federation ($2.55m against Chennai's bid of $2.25m) and the two separate press releases issued by Fide on Tuesday point to some dark areas in the whole process.



Nevertheless, Fide vice-president DV Sundar, who hails from Chennai, does not think there is anything wrong in the allotment. "Russia simply had a better bid. It is also a neutral venue. But look at the positive side, Fide has already given us the option of hosting the 2013 world championship," he defended the Fide decision.



But what is Anand's position in 2013 when the bidding reopens three months from his match against Gelfand in 2012? "If he wins (against Gelfand), we will forward the bid again to Fide. If he loses, we will say goodbye," said Sundar, who seemed equal to the task.



Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.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!

Venue will be announced by August 10

World Championship Match 2012
Tuesday, 02 August 2011 12:47

FIDE announces that two offers were received in its office by the deadline of 31 July for the World Championship Match 2012, one from the Russian Chess Federation and one from the All India Chess Federation. Both offers are well above the minimum required prize fund of 1 million euros. FIDE is currently in contact with the bidders, the players and the two national federations for additional clarifications. The final decision will be made by the FIDE President by 10 August.

Venue will be announced by August 10

World Championship Match 2012
Tuesday, 02 August 2011 12:47

FIDE announces that two offers were received in its office by the deadline of 31 July for the World Championship Match 2012, one from the Russian Chess Federation and one from the All India Chess Federation. Both offers are well above the minimum required prize fund of 1 million euros. FIDE is currently in contact with the bidders, the players and the two national federations for additional clarifications. The final decision will be made by the FIDE President by 10 August.

Anand has many fans in the Russian capital

'Viswanathan Anand has many fans in the Russian capital' - Boris Gelfand

July 30, 2011
Boris Khodorovsky, Gazeta.Ru

Moscow and Chennai bid for the right to host the World chess championship title match.

Moscow’s right to host the World chess championship title match in the spring of 2012 is being challenged by Chennai, the birthplace of the reigning world chess champion Viswanathan Anand.

Several more contenders may come forward, says Kirsan Ilyumzhanov, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Minsk, the home town of the Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand, as well as London, may enter the race. The deadline for entering bids runs out on 31 July, and the winner will be announced the following day.

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 file 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 then we are not looking at the secret debut plans of the time of matches between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov.

It transpired that the man who is ready to provide $2 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 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,” Izrus.co.il quotes him as saying.

Moscow has vast experience staging world chess title matches. The first one, between Emanuel Lasker and Wilhelm Steinitz, was held at the turn of 1896 and 1897. In the middle of the 20^th century practically all matches took place in the USSR. Where else were Soviet grandmasters to play? It was not until 1972 when first Bobby Fischer and then the “apostate” Viktor Korchnoi laid their claims that the tradition had to be changed.

The last world championship match Moscow hosted was the open-ended one between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov in 1985. The match was stopped by then FIDE President Florencio Campomanes after 48 games failed to determine the winner. Under the rules they played until one or the other won six games, and the score was 5:3 in Karpov’s favour.

The last match between Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov was played in the latter’s home town Sofia. Bulgarians say it was a lucrative event, but one finds it hard to believe this because chess has lost its erstwhile popularity of late.

Let us face it, there are no giants like Botvinnik, Tal, Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov (with all due respect to Gelfand and Anand). The Norwegian Magnus Karlsen, the most commercially attractive chess player, pointedly ignored the knock-out stage. As soon as he announced his decision London refused to bid for hosting the final match.

Ilyumzhinov’s announcement that London is again interested in the chess championship and has found some sponsors looks like a bluff that makes one think of the fictional grandmaster Ostap Bender, for whom the FIDE President has a soft spot. Minsk as a venue is a joke. The challenger’s hometown, where from he emigrated to Israel, barely has enough money to disperse protest demonstrations.

FIDE Presidential Aide Berik Balgimbayev has been stressing ever since the tender was announced that FIDE was expecting bids from Israel and India. Both countries obliged.

Chennai, Anand's home city, has entered its bid. The government of Tamil Nadu state is ready to allocate 200 million rupees (about $4.5 million) to organise the match. “We are sure to get it,” the Indian newspaper Hindu quotes FIDE Vice President D.V. Sundar.

News of the Indian bid coincided with reports of a terrorist attack in another major Indian city, Mumbai. A high terrorist alert was announced in India’s three biggest cities, including Chennai. On the one hand, it boosts Moscow’s chances to host the match, but on the other hand, prize money today matters more than security considerations. In the summer of 1998 the world Russian checkers championship took place at the Severny airport in the Chechen capital Grozny, not the safest place in terms of terrorist threats. The reason was that Shamil Basayev had ordered $45,000 to be paid in prize money. This was after Budyonnovsk and Basayev were already declared the most wanted terrorists, but it was also stressed that he was almost a professional checkers player and was advocating making checkers part of the school curriculum in Chechnya.

We should keep our fingers crossed that Tripoli does not bid to host the Anand-Gelfand match. Chennai can surely handle the match. So can Moscow. It looks as if for Russia today the number of prestigious sporting events it hosts is more important than supplying sick children with medicaments or housing veterans.

Source: http://indrus.in

Anand has many fans in the Russian capital

'Viswanathan Anand has many fans in the Russian capital' - Boris Gelfand

July 30, 2011
Boris Khodorovsky, Gazeta.Ru

Moscow and Chennai bid for the right to host the World chess championship title match.

Moscow’s right to host the World chess championship title match in the spring of 2012 is being challenged by Chennai, the birthplace of the reigning world chess champion Viswanathan Anand.

Several more contenders may come forward, says Kirsan Ilyumzhanov, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Minsk, the home town of the Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand, as well as London, may enter the race. The deadline for entering bids runs out on 31 July, and the winner will be announced the following day.

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 file 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 then we are not looking at the secret debut plans of the time of matches between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov.

It transpired that the man who is ready to provide $2 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 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,” Izrus.co.il quotes him as saying.

Moscow has vast experience staging world chess title matches. The first one, between Emanuel Lasker and Wilhelm Steinitz, was held at the turn of 1896 and 1897. In the middle of the 20^th century practically all matches took place in the USSR. Where else were Soviet grandmasters to play? It was not until 1972 when first Bobby Fischer and then the “apostate” Viktor Korchnoi laid their claims that the tradition had to be changed.

The last world championship match Moscow hosted was the open-ended one between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov in 1985. The match was stopped by then FIDE President Florencio Campomanes after 48 games failed to determine the winner. Under the rules they played until one or the other won six games, and the score was 5:3 in Karpov’s favour.

The last match between Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov was played in the latter’s home town Sofia. Bulgarians say it was a lucrative event, but one finds it hard to believe this because chess has lost its erstwhile popularity of late.

Let us face it, there are no giants like Botvinnik, Tal, Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov (with all due respect to Gelfand and Anand). The Norwegian Magnus Karlsen, the most commercially attractive chess player, pointedly ignored the knock-out stage. As soon as he announced his decision London refused to bid for hosting the final match.

Ilyumzhinov’s announcement that London is again interested in the chess championship and has found some sponsors looks like a bluff that makes one think of the fictional grandmaster Ostap Bender, for whom the FIDE President has a soft spot. Minsk as a venue is a joke. The challenger’s hometown, where from he emigrated to Israel, barely has enough money to disperse protest demonstrations.

FIDE Presidential Aide Berik Balgimbayev has been stressing ever since the tender was announced that FIDE was expecting bids from Israel and India. Both countries obliged.

Chennai, Anand's home city, has entered its bid. The government of Tamil Nadu state is ready to allocate 200 million rupees (about $4.5 million) to organise the match. “We are sure to get it,” the Indian newspaper Hindu quotes FIDE Vice President D.V. Sundar.

News of the Indian bid coincided with reports of a terrorist attack in another major Indian city, Mumbai. A high terrorist alert was announced in India’s three biggest cities, including Chennai. On the one hand, it boosts Moscow’s chances to host the match, but on the other hand, prize money today matters more than security considerations. In the summer of 1998 the world Russian checkers championship took place at the Severny airport in the Chechen capital Grozny, not the safest place in terms of terrorist threats. The reason was that Shamil Basayev had ordered $45,000 to be paid in prize money. This was after Budyonnovsk and Basayev were already declared the most wanted terrorists, but it was also stressed that he was almost a professional checkers player and was advocating making checkers part of the school curriculum in Chechnya.

We should keep our fingers crossed that Tripoli does not bid to host the Anand-Gelfand match. Chennai can surely handle the match. So can Moscow. It looks as if for Russia today the number of prestigious sporting events it hosts is more important than supplying sick children with medicaments or housing veterans.

Source: http://indrus.in

India nominates Chennai to host the Anand - Gelfand match

India bids for the Anand - Gelfand 2012 match
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu State Mme J. Jayalalithaa backing the proposal

As Chessdom already hinted earlier, India nominates Chennai to host the Anand - Gelfand World Championship match. This was announced yesterday afternoon in Chennai by the FIDE President and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu State Mme J. Jayalalithaa.

Chennai is planning to invest 200 million rupees (approximately $ 4.5 million) in the match. It should be noted that by now FIDE has already received a bid from the Russian Chess Federation.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov also visited the Russian Cultural Center, where he gave the press conference which aroused great interest among the Indian mass media. It is remarkable that the eight-year-old Viswanathan Anand took his first chess lessons in this Center.

The World Chess Championship 2012 bidding procedure continues until July 31st.

The World Chess Championship 2010 between Anand and Topalov had an increase of interest by at least a full order of magnitude reaching to a large online audience (5 million unique visitors to official site, daily hundreds of articles plus main page appearance on Google news, main page appearance on Wikipedia, etc.), while official media partners covering the match scored fantastic results (ex: Chessdom.com received over 1,5 million unique visitors and 15M page views for the duration of the match). More details on the WCC 2010 media success here.

Chennai (known as Madras till 1996) is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the fourth most populous metropolitan area in India and it is also the world's 41st largest metropolitan area. Chennai is on the southeast coast of India in the northeast of Tamil Nadu on a flat coastal plain. Its average elevation is around 6.7 m and its highest point is 60 m.

The Marina Beach runs for 12 km along the shoreline of the city. Chennai has a tropical climate, specifically a tropical wet and dry climate. The weather is hot and humid for most of the year.

Excited to play at home

Anand excited about playing in front of home crowd
Posted on 13th July 2011

Chennai, July 13 (IANS) Viswanathan Anand is obviously excited at the prospects of playing a World Championship title match in his home town here next year when he faces challenger Boris Gelfand, Grandmaster from Israel who is currently 12 in World rankings.

‘I have been looking to play the match in Chennai. It is nice that Chennai is hosting a World Championship match,’ said Grandmaster Anand Wednesday after Tamil Nadu government offered support for the 12-match series in April-May next year.

‘Obviously, it is an individual’s responsibility and once I start planning and training, I need to be focused to play Boris Gelfand,’ said Anand, who last played a World Championship match here in 1991 when he defeated Alexey Dreev 5-4 in a Candidates tournament quarter-final.

Anand, who beat Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria in 2010 to claim the World title, said he would soon begin his preparations for the next year’s match.

‘Once the FIDE (World Chess Federation) announces the schedule and timing of matches, I will start planning. As I said, I am really thrilled to be playing in Chennai. I will have to work extremely hard. It is going to be tough,’ he said.

Earlier in the day, FIDE president Kirsan Illyumzhinov along with some Indian chess officials met Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who assured the delegation of Tamil Nadu government support in hosting the event that is estimated to cost Rs 20 Crores.

‘I express my grateful feelings to Madam Chief Minister for her decision to have the match in Chennai. I look forward eagerly to play here. It will be a fantastic experience. It is a very tough match,’ said Anand.

A FIDE press release said: ‘Her Excellency Jayalalithaa responded affirmatively and considered the offer (of hosting the title match) of the World Chess Federation as an excellent opportunity to put Chennai at the centre of world attention. She subsequently instructed her Chief Secretary to finalise the offer to FIDE and the AICF (All-India Chess Federation).

Source: http://www.inewsone.com

Chennai to host World Chess Championship title?

Chennai to host World Chess Championship title
Published: Wednesday, Jul 13, 2011, 14:38 IST
Place: Chennai | Agency: PTI

Holder Viswanathan Anand will clash with Boris Gelfand of Israel for the 2012 World Chess Championship title, which will be held in India for the first time.

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has accepted a proposal to conduct the event either in April or May next year during a meeting with World Chess Federation (FIDE) president Kirsan Illyumzhinov, in Chennai today.

This is the first time that India would be hosting the prestigious tournament, which would be held at a cost of around Rs20 crore, a state government release said.

During the meeting, Illyumzhinov mooted the proposal to conduct the games in Chennai to which the Jayalalithaa agreed, the release added.

India is ranked seventh in the world, and of the 24 grandmasters in the country, 24 are from Tamil Nadu.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com

Preparation and luck

Preparation and luck count, says Boris Gelfand
Chennai, July 11, 2011
By Arvind Aaron

“I haven't heard about any bid from India. The only one that is known to me is the bid from Moscow,” said Boris Gelfand, the twelfth ranked player in the world from Israel who qualified to challenge World champion Viswanathan Anand in April 2012.

“Good preparation, high quality chess and probably luck,” will be the decisive factors according to Gelfand which will decide the match. The World championship challenger spoke to The Hindu in an exclusive interview:

Congratulations on winning the Kazan Candidates and emerging as the Challenger Candidate for Anand in the World Championship. How do you rank your matches against Mamedyarov, Kamsky and Grischuk in terms of difficulty?

Thank you for the warm words. I think the match with Mamedyarov was the easiest one, relatively, of course, as I had half a year to prepare for it. Everything was decided in the third game which I won brilliantly in the sharp way. The match with Kamsky was the most difficult. I was close to be eliminated from the tournament. But luck was on my side, and in the fourth rapid game I managed to win. The final with Grischuk obviously was tough. I defended well and showed my best play in the last game.

You have emerged as the Challenger for the first time. Will your advantage over Anand be ‘more motivation' since he has already won it and you are more eager to become champion?

I think, in the World Championship match both players are highly motivated, so I cannot count on the advantage.

If there was only one bid from India for your match would you like to play in India? You have played many World Championship matches here. Your win against Kramnik and defeat to Karpov at Sanghinagar might still be in memory?

I have very good memories of my Candidate Matches played in Sanghinagar (near Hyderabad) in 94-95 and FIDE World Championship in Delhi in 2000. However, for the moment I haven't heard about any bid from India. The only one that is known to me is the bid from Moscow.

You have played in many places. Which are the top three chess venues?

Belgrade, Monaco and Khanty-Mansiysk

Many chess events are not happening anymore: like Linares, Mainz. How much of a concern is this for elite players like you?

Of course, it is not very pleasant news. But we hope that those tournaments will come back. However, we have new events, such as Bazna, Tal Memorial, Bilbao, Nanjing. So I think that the situation is not bad, especially compared to the previous decade. The chess life in the world is growing. Slowly, but surely.

You are 1968-born and Anand is 1969-born. Will it be more of a relaxed match between two 40+ men. How much different it may have been had you met in the thirties?

I don't believe it could be a relaxed match for the title of the World champion.

Anand's current rating of 2817 is his personal all-time high. Your rating is 15 Elo below your personal best at 2746 now. Do you attach any importance to these numbers?

I don't put a big significance to the numbers. I believe in good and quality chess.

You and Anand are gentlemen at and off the board and also without any controversies. Both are married. So which factor you believe might be decisive for this match?

Good preparation, high quality chess and probably luck.

How long did your celebration run for the Kazan result? Do more people in your former country Belarus celebrate as much as in Israel?

I think that chess public in Belarus is very happy with my success. I don't have much contacts with Belarus, but I'm sure that my fans are following and rooting for me.

With the computers playing at huge strength these days, cheating using electronic devices is also widely reported. Do you believe that metal detectors should be used before players enter the hall like they did during the Kasparov-Kramnik match at London (2000)?

I trust my colleagues, but I do believe that it is better to be on the safe side, so I support anti-cheating measures.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com

Going, going, gone for $76,275

ANTIQUES: Rock and Chess Memorabilia from the '60, '70s Heats Up
By ELIZABETH STEWART -- JULY 9, 2011

If you missed this next auction, and you are a chess fan, you will be heartbroken, because you could have bought the chess set used by Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1972 at the World Chess Championship in Iceland, signed by both masters. The board and the pieces went for $76,275 at Philip Weiss Auctions in New York in April. There’s nothing special about the wooden board, except for the signatures and the provenance. Just another example why provenance is important and should be noted even in your own collections for future generations.

This chess set is the “back room” board – Fischer had a tantrum when he lost his second match and blamed his loss on the cameras in the main hall. So this, the third match board, was used in a small private room with no cameras. Fischer won, and captured the title. And of course the auction house got a hold of Fischer’s letters to Zita, the love of his life, and auctioned them, too for $9,888.

Source: http://www.thedailysound.com

Which country will step up to the plate?

Who will host the chess match?
July 8, 2011
RIA Novosti

India could become Russia’s main competitor in the fight to host the 2012 World Chess Championship, says Berik Balgabaev, Director of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) in Russia.

The Indian chess player Vishwanathan Anand, the current world champion, and Boris Gelfand from Israel, winner of the qualifying tournament, are going to lock horns in a battle for the chess crown. Russia put in an official application to the FIDE to organise a match between Anand and Gelfand on 28 June.

The Board Chairman of the Russian Chess Federation, Ilya Levitov, announced that a sponsor, who wishes to remain anonymous, is willing to donate prize money in the region of $2 million for the Moscow match.

“As far as I know, the Indians are taking the application to host the match very seriously”, says Balgabaev. “It’s possible that some other country will also decide to make a bid to host the competition”.

He added that the applications from countries wishing to host the match “have to be made by the end of July”.

One of the most important criteria for the right to host the contest is the amount of prize money on offer.

Source: http://indrus.in

Chennai 2012?

WCC 2012 in Chennai, India?
Chennai is a possible venue for Anand - Gelfand

As the World Chess Championship 2012 bids deadline approaches, and with Russia bidding strong for the Anand - Gelfand match, the defending World Champion Viswanathan Anand voiced one more time his desire to have the event in India.

"I will be very happy to represent India before a home crowd in Chennai which is bidding to host the World Chess event. Though spectators play no role in cheering up the players but certainly their presence is required," Anand told reporters. "If Chennai hosts the World Chess, it will be a great boost to the sport across the country," he added for the Times Of India.

The bids deadline is July 31st and more interest, including from Boris Gelfand's home country Israel, is expected in the next days.

Happy to play the WC in India

Anand will be happy to play World Chess in India
PTI | 11:07 PM,Jul 07,2011

Nagpur, Jul 7 (PTI) World chess champion Vishwanathan Anand will be more than happy to play for the country in the World Chess Championship being planned in Chennai. "I will be very happy to represent India before a home crowd in Chennai which is bidding to host the World Chess event. Though spectators play no role in cheering up the players but certainly their presence is required," Anand told reporters here. "If Chennai hosts the World Chess, it will be a great boost to the sport across the country," he added. Among the top players in India, Anand felt that P Harikrishna was the most talented of the lot. To a question on cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, a soft spoken Anand, who was here to promote Chess, said there cannot be any comparison between cricket and chess and their respective popularity. Cricket is number one sport in the country and Sachin is doing good, he said. He interacted with students of a local educational institute as part of his campaign to promote Chess.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com

Who will win the World Championship match?
	V. Anand
	B. Gelfand