Chess world at war: Ponomariov vs International Chess Federation (05/30/04)

Chess world at war: Ponomariov vs International Chess Federation

by Petro Marusenko

KYIV - A virtual war has developed between Ukrainian world chess champion Ruslan Ponomariov and the world governing body for chess, FIDE (International Chess Federation). The feud has become a focus of world attention as FIDE faces the possibility of holding its next chess championship without some of the world's best talent, including Mr. Ponomariov.

The controversy is the result of a confusing global chess system and the well-documented eccentricities and self-centeredness retained almost as a tradition or a right of passage by the top chess grand masters.

At the end of January 2002, having beaten fellow Ukrainian Vasyl Ivanchuk, 18-year-old Mr. Ponomariov became the youngest champion in chess history. But Mr. Ponomariov has remained far from the undisputed champ. Vladimir Kramnyk of Russia has retained a second version of the championship title in the classic chess category, while Gary Kasparov, the acclaimed Russian master who has lost all his official titles, remains the highest rated chess master. With an ego to match his ratings, Mr. Kasparov will consider only championship matches and will not be bothered with elimination rounds.

It soon became evident that there could be only one king. To unite the chess world an agreement was signed on May 2002 in Prague, according to which Mr. Ponomariov has to play against Mr. Kasparov, while Mr. Kramnyk was to face the winner of a playoff between several leading chess masters (which Hungarian Peter Leko was to win). The winners of the two matches would then play for the right to claim for themselves the title of absolute world champion.

While Mr. Ponomariov wasn't even invited to Prague for the discussions that led to the deal, he agreed with the solution. Even so, it didn't turn out as planned. The match between Mr. Ponomariov and Mr. Kasparov was put off and locations changed (from Argentina to Yalta) several times. Ultimately, the match didn't occur at all. Moreover, FIDE blamed the Ukrainian chess player for the disruptions.

In truth, the viewpoint taken by Kirsana Ilumzhinov, the president of the federation, was somewhat strange, inasmuch as it supported Mr. Kasparov, whom many consider infantile in his attitude toward his approach to matches and the demands he puts forward. However, it was also strange for three other reasons: first, Mr. Kasparov had done a lot to cause chaos within the ranks of FIDE; second, Mr. Kasparov had previously publicly questioned the financial dealings of Mr. Ilumzhinov; and finally, if the FIDE president couldn't support his own champion, then who would?

After the match was canceled, talks began on a new championship tournament in the spring of 2004, but as often has happened with FIDE, it was put off until the summer. The venue that was chosen - Tripoli, Libya - was also unusual. It is interesting to note that in 1996 Mr. Ilumzhinov tried to have a match between Mr. Kasparov, who we remind you is a Russian, and Gaty Kamsky, an American, in Iraq under the patronage of Saddam Hussein. Only after the U.S. State Department prohibited Mr. Kamsky from traveling to Iraq did the FIDE president change his mind. Now Mr. Ilumzhinov wants the world's premier chess forum to be held under the patronage of Muammar Qaddafi.

The participants in the championship tournament had until the end of April to commit to play in Tripoli in a playoff structure with one not-so-minor detail. The winner of the playoff would meet Mr. Kasparov, who is merely a grand master. FIDE maintains that Mr. Kasparov can wait out the playoffs and play only for the championship due to his astronomic masters rating, which remains much greater than those of other chess players even though it was gained several years ago. In the last two years Mr. Kasparov has not only failed to win any tournaments, he has competed only twice.

On the other hand, Mr. Ponomariov, the current world champion as recognized by FIDE, would have to play from the first round. The contest would be held under a single knockout system with 128 other grand masters. Mr. Ponomariov refused the conditions and rejected participation in the championship. As the world ex-champion Anatoly Karpov commented, "The tournament winner will play Kasparov for the title of ... Ponomariov."

As the Ukrainian chess player admitted, he did not want to turn down the opportunity to play in Libya. He hadn't taken part in any chess contests since last October. Many followers of the sport believe that Mr. Kasparov has used his profound effect on the chess world not to let Mr. Ponomariov play in prestigious tournaments.

Earlier the new resident of Kyiv (he moved from Donetsk some months ago) had kept silent, but now he has made some statements.

First he wrote a letter to the newly created Association of Chess Professionals (similar to a chess masters' trade union), where he made his point. He noted: "The title 'the world's best chess master,' which Kasparov has bestowed upon himself, is not foreseen either within the statutes of FIDE or in any other official sources. I think that such a situation is in violation of all principles of fair play." He emphasized: "I will not surrender to the absolute dictates of FIDE."

Mr. Ponomariov also wrote to the Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, intending to get the support of Ukraine's leader. In that letter Mr. Ponomariov was less diplomatic in his description of the FIDE leadership, calling it a "chess mafia."

The relations between Mr. Ponomariov and the Ukrainian Chess Federation and its leader Viktor Petrov also are not clear. The champion blames the national federation for betraying his interests. Mr. Petrov, however, has said that Mr. Ponomariov's entourage (his manager, trainer, lawyer) have a negative influence on him and destroy the champion's image. While it is difficult to say if they have worked out their problems, they seem to have come to a common position on resolving the impasses surrounding the Tripoli tournament.

Mr. Ponomariov presented his idea for determining a single 2004 world champion during a press conference in Kyiv. He suggested that a single tournament take place to decide the world championship title between Kasparov, Kramnyk, Leko, himself and other contenders, including the winner of the knockout tournament in Tripoli.

It seemed like a fair solution, but with a single, perhaps insurmountable hurdle: Mr. Kasparov has shown no inclination to agree to it. It is likely that he is interested only in his own needs (including financial), much more so than such an abstract idea as determining a single world champion. While chaos remains within the top echelon of world chess, Mr. Kasparov can continue to make considerable money playing matches with computers. His reputation obviously works for him. But imagine if he should lose one more world championship - then it would be difficult to persuade his sponsors he is the king of world chess.

Needless to say, the chess community for the most part supports Mr. Ponomariov's side. After the Ukrainian chess player declined to take part in the Tripoli tourney, other famous players such as Messrs. Karpov, Kramnyk and Leko refused to participate in the championship. So, then, why does FIDE remain opposed to Mr. Ponomariov's position?

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