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Originally posted by tmetzlerKramnik went for a walk to "his private WC" ...It was locked - Calamity at its best. .... and dind't come back.
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2006/elista/savinov20.jpg
That picture disgusts me. It also tells me a few things.
1. Topalov is NO true competitor. No real competitor is overjoyed about winning because of a forfeit. A REAL competitor wants to prove that that they ARE THE BEST, not "the best" because the other player didn't show up.
2. This was one
Kramnik, you might as well go home. There is not a worthy competitor for you in Elista.
http://www.forumforme.com/showthread.php?t=21
...........-*Russian journalists ask how you understood he goes to the bathroom*
- There are records and our technical experts requested them. The referee did not say much, except that he has noticed the fact.
Even people that do not play chess noticed the fact that when Kramnik comes out of the toilet he plays almost immedeately. That is not normal and we requested the records....................
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Originally posted by Los AngelesI don't find this odd at all. I do the same in OTB events. I can see the board more clearly when I am not looking at it, so a quick trip to a water fountain or water closet can aid in clearing my head. When I return to the board, I've decided upon my move.
Even people that do not play chess noticed the fact that when Kramnik comes out of the toilet he plays almost immedeately. That is not normal and we requested the records
Even people that do not play chess noticed the fact that when Kramnik comes out of the toilet he plays almost immedeately. That is not normal and we requested the recordsHmm. . . You're really avoiding the point here. Were Kramnik's actions suspicious? Some might think. As it was mentioned, there could have been serveral expanations for it, such as maybe he had bad gas and didn't want to stink up the exibition hall. May sound silly, but that would be a solid explanation.
Was it within Topalov's rights to write a letter of suspision? It was. He chose to insult and undermine Kramnik in the letter, which only made Topalov himself out to be a monster. But he is allowed to file as many complaints as he wants.
FIDE screwed up and we all know it. They should have said "That's nice, Veselin, now go sit down." They wrongly started game 5 and gave an undeserved point.
Win or lose, Topalov will never be considered World Champ by this tournament, so he has really already lost. In my opinion, there is only one way for Topolov to repair the damage done to his reputation. He has to fire Danailov and blame him for everything. I believe it is possible that this may all be Danailov's fault. He really seems like the evil puppet master here. He wrote the letters. Who really knows what Topalov is being told. Is Veselin reading all the bad press and open letters condeming his actions, or is Danailov telling him that everyone's on his side. Veselin stikes me as someone without a lot of common sense and is probably a horrible judge of character.
Of course, the best thing for him to do would be to forfeit a game back to Kramnik, but no chance of that so long a Danialov is in the mix.
Who knows, without Danialov, Topalov might be a pretty nice guy. But put them together, they are the Mike Tyson and Don King of chess
Originally posted by IronPawnXTopalov will be recognized as champ if he wins convincingly. That is, he must win more than Kramnik over the board. He's down two on this score with six game remaining. He need to win half of the remaining games without any losses.
Win or lose, Topalov will never be considered World Champ by this tournament, so he has really already lost.
Originally posted by WulebgrI disagree. His suddenly winning enough games to pull through this would be a big turn around in the match. After all the nonsense that has been going on, however, that kind of a turn-around would be contributed to dirty psychological tactics, and not chess skill. There is no doubt that the recent drama could have a very negative impact on Kramnik's play, which some would say is the reason Topalov did it in the first place.
Topalov will be recognized as champ if he wins convincingly. That is, he must win more than Kramnik over the board.
The following are quotes I'm stealing from Susan Polgar's Blog at www.susanpolgar.blogspot.com.
In general, frankly speaking, I do not understand all of these goings-on, but it is perfectly clear that the Bulgarian delegation wanted to disturb Kramnik’s equanimity, and thereby to try to improve their chances. They have succeeded. They got a point illegally. I don’t know how this has affected Kramnik’s morale, but it can hardly have helped. I would say that they used immoral methods... [If I were Kramnik,] I would not continue the match.
-Karpov
In spite of an evidently unfair treatment, which has not only resulted in your being forfeited of one game, but also of being subjected to petty attacks and ridiculous accusations from the opposing camp, you have accepted to continue the match, for the sake of reunifying the chess world.
-Joel Lautier (France)
-Almira Skripchenko (France)
Thank you for being a model sportsman in a time and place where so many circumstances turned against you.
-Susan Polgar
Kramnik went on to draw game 6 effortlessly, so it seems that he wasn't greatly effected, but if he goes on to lose the match, there will be an awful lot of people, myself included, who would feel he deserved win.
P.S. Don't give me that garbage about the world championship being about off-the-board psychology as well as on-the-board psychology. If Topalov had filed the complaint and the Appeals Committe done the right thing and told him where he could stick it, then it would be unlikely to have any impact on Kramnik. But the fact that FIDE sided against him with no proof, was a blow. The players can try to psych each other out as much as they want within the rules, but if the governing body starts picking sides, that's unfair.
Originally posted by IronPawnXI don't care about "off board psychology" but if Topalov wins more games than Kramnik (excepting the ridiculous forfeit), he will be a legitimate champion in my eyes. The games are what is important, not the side show.
I disagree. His suddenly winning enough games to pull through this would be a big turn around in the match. After all the nonsense that has been going on, however, that kind of a turn-around would be contributed to dirty psychological tactics, and not chess skill. There is no doubt that the recent drama could have a very negative impact on Kramnik's pla ...[text shortened]... they want within the rules, but if the governing body starts picking sides, that's unfair.
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Originally posted by 7ate9That's crazy. 24 Rad1 was the only real chance for advantage and forced Kramnik to play precisely. I'm not sure about R1d6 later but I haven't looked at other analyses.
I got the impression Topalov played for the draw in the last game from that pawn he offered onwards. If so, then I am curious as to why. Two reasons I can think of is...
1) He was using psychological tactics to disrupt Kramniks, 'go for the draw game' so he can take advantage of this in later games. Kramnik could get stuck in that game, while Topalov change ...[text shortened]... oped Kramnik might mess up along the way giving him a win. If not then a draw... which he got.
BTW, I am glad to see that Topalov shook hands with Kramnik before the game; I think every chess player would realize that not doing so (as threatened in Danilov's letters) would have been classless, poor sportsmanship.