LIVE from the press conference and the venue PHOTOS added
Note: Photo album from the press conference is here more than 100 photos are available and we have started uploading them, every several minutes you will be able to enjoy new photos by the Chessdom photographers in the playing hall. Vishy Anand inspected the playing hall and tested the chair (photo here).
10:00 CET
The World Chess Federation distributed a message that the WCC 2010 match between Anand and Topalov will be postponed 1 day. In accordance with chapter 7.4 of the match regulations as well as article 2.4 of the 2010 World Chess Championship Agreement, the 1st game of the match will be postponed by 1 (one) day to start on Saturday, 24th April 2010. The opening ceremony will not be postponed and will be held on 21st April 2010 as originally planned. Official stetement of FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos is at the end of this article.
10:30 CET
All India Chess Federation distributed details from Anand's travel. Scroll down for text of the document.
11:00 CET
Press conference should have started by now, however, there will be a slight delay. The FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is at the hotel. He will probably not be able to attend the press conference after he had a very long trip and he is probably tired. Confirmed participants at the press conference are both Anand and Topalov, as well as the FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos.
Some officials are still at the airport, details coming.
11:15 CET
Press conference started, FIDE Deputy President explains how the equal treatment and conditions for both players are of highest importance to FIDE and to the chess world.
The FIDE Deputy President explained the difficulties of Anand's trip (scroll down for details by the AICF) and also explained that he understands the problems for the organizers. "Everybody understands that there were problems for both sides and we have to find a solution," he added.
"I explained to Vishy that it is a shock for the organization to pospone 3 days, and I said to the organizers that the situation is force majeure. After many discussions I talked to the Presidential Board and the FIDE President and we decided to postpone the start of the match one day. I expect from the organizers understanding for the one day postponement and understanding from Anand's team that 3 days was also not optional," concluded the FIDE Deputy President.
(expect full statement later today)
11:45 CET
The word was given to the World Champion Viswanathan Anand who said, "I am very happy to be here, it was a longer trip than we expected. The main thing I came here for is to play chess. Mr. Makropoulos described very well the situation. I want to thank FIDE for the understanding and I hope the chess fans will see a good match."
11:55 CET
Veselin Topalov thanked the Prime Minister Boiko Borisov and the Minister of Sports Svilen Neikov. He also thanked the sponsors. "This is a historical event for Bulgaria, we are a small country. We cannot organize Olympic games and this championship is a very effective way of promotion for the country." Topalov commented, "For 5 years with Anand we are dominating the chess world and this match should have happened long time ago."
12:05 CET
On a question from journalists if the decision was coordinated with the PB and the FIDE President, the FIDE Deputy President said, "I spoke with the President, with the managers, with everyone. I was the only one that did not make official statement before the decision. Because I believe we should not turn to media when there is force majeure, instead we should turn first to the President and the Prime Minister" . Makropoulos also explained details from the communication FIDE - Anand and all actions taken by the World Chess Federation to help Anand arrive in Sofia faster. "It was a mutual effort by them and us to make sure they will be here."
The time schedule changes with one day, the only thing not sure for now is the time the first game will start. It can be changed depending on the schedule of the Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, but this is to be discussed additionally.
12:15 CET
Anand thanked for the extra day and he said he is happy with the decision, the actions of FIDE, and the organizing committee.
12:19 CET
Anand was asked about his team, "We are 8 people here, we had no problems with visa," said Anand, but he did not reveal the names.
12:25 CET
A slight confusion at the press conference, as journalists from Marca.com asked a question in Spanish. A Chessdom journalist, Veselin Topalov, and Vishy Anand turned out to be the only people in the room to understand Spanish, and Topalov acted as a translator as by contract all press conferences should be in English.
With that the press conference was finished. Expect more details from the playing hall in a few moments on Chessdom.
12:45 CET
It was again confirmed FIDE President is in Sofia and resting from the long trip. He is just a few minutes away from the playing hall now and will attend the opening ceremony. Photo album from the press conference is here more than 100 photos are available and we have started uploading them, every several minutes you will be able to enjoy new photos by the Chessdom photographers in the playing hall.
13:25 CET
Update from the inspection before the press conference: Anand and his team carefully inspected the playing hall. He tested the chair, looked at the rest areas, inspected the curtain, and the toilets. He was accompanied by his team and FIDE officials as well as the arbiter. Upon Anand's request light was adjusted from bluish to yellowish color (photo of adjustment here)
Topalov came later, tested the chair for a few seconds and said "Everything is ok!" The arbiter insisted to show him around, Topalov took a quick look and he went to the press conference.
Hon. Prime Minister Boyko Borisov
Chairman of Organising Committee of FIDE World Championship Match 2010
Sofia
Bulgaria
Sofia, 21 April 2010
Dear Hon. Prime Minister,
In my capacity as FIDE Supervisor for the World Championship Match 2010, I have consulted with all the parties to try and resolve the “force majeure” situation which has arisen these last few days. It is clear that we have reached an impasse in the discussions and a decision must be made. I also requested a meeting with you, but I was informed, that unfortunately this was not possible.
After reviewing the World Champion’s request for a three day postponement, I understand that this would create enormous difficulties for the Organisers. Similarly, starting the match on Friday 23rd would cause enormous difficulties for the World Champion. I appreciate that whilst the one day postponement may cause some problems, it is justified by the circumstances that the whole world faced last week and ensures a fair play situation for both players.
Therefore, in accordance with chapter 7.4 of the match regulations as well as article 2.4 of our 2010 World Chess Championship Agreement, I would like to inform you that the 1st game of the match will be postponed by 1 (one) day to start on Saturday, 24th April 2010, for the following reasons:
a) As a result of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland which caused the cancellation of thousands of flights from most European airports, including Sofia, we faced serious problems, not only with the late arrival of World Champion Vishy Anand in Sofia but also with the late arrival of FIDE officials and principals of the match. It is obvious that this is an "Event of Force Majeure" [pages 2 and 12 (article 11) of our 2010 World Chess Championship Agreement] which has resulted in an unfair position for World Champion Vishy Anand as he has not taken full benefit of the seven-days period (article 8.2 of our 2010 World Chess Championship Agreement) in order for him to acclimatize to the conditions and ensure that all his team will be organised to support him logistically and technically in the match.
b) According to the 2010 World Chess Championship Agreement, the final inspection of the match was to be held on the 18th April 2010, five (5) days before the 1st game (article 3.9). This deadline was not followed due to the Organiser’s delay and it has been agreed by all parties that the final inspection will be held on the morning of the 21st April 2010. Therefore a postponement is also needed in order to secure that all organisational requirements will be met in the remaining three days before the start of the match in lieu of the five days originally envisaged for such compliance.
The opening ceremony will not be postponed and will be held on 21st April 2010 as originally planned.
The whole world will undoubtedly appreciate the efforts that Bulgaria has made not only to organize such a prestigious match, but also to find a fair and equitable solution to this problem.
I would like to thank you for your understanding and all your commitment for this match to be organized at the highest level possible.
Yours sincerely,
Georgios Makropoulos
FIDE Deputy President
FIDE Supervisor for the World Championship Match 2010
The decision can be seen as a compromise solution, where the Anand team had asked for three days and the Bulgarian organizers refused any postponement. According to one of our sources, however, it was the Bulgarian Prime Minister himself, who is also the chairman of the organizing committee, who agreed on a one-day postponement. The fact that several (FIDE) officials are also having difficulty arriving in time in Sofia, may also have played a role…
At the moment it’s unclear how exactly the schedule will be changed. It’s likely that one of the free days, or perhaps the rest day between game 12 and the tiebreaks, will be removed.
Article Source: Chessdom
At the moment it’s unclear how exactly the schedule will be changed. It’s likely that one of the free days, or perhaps the rest day between game 12 and the tiebreaks, will be removed.
Schedule
| April 21 – 18.00 EEST (15.00 UTC) – Official opening April 23 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 1 April 24 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 2 April 25 – Rest Day April 26 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 3 April 27 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 4 April 28 – Rest Day April 29 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 5 April 30 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 6 May 1 – Rest Day May 2 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 7 | May 3 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 8 May 4 – Rest Day May 5 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 9 May 6 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 10 May 7 – Rest Day May 8 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 11 May 9 – Rest Day May 10 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) – Game 12 May 11 – Rest Day May 12 – Tie breaks |
The last inspection of the playing hall. We see Chief Arbiter Panaqiotis Nikolopoulos (Greece) and Viswanathan Anand, with in the background Hans-Walter Schmitt and Aruna Anand.
The challenger, Veselin Topalov, checking his chair
Article Source: Chessdom
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