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Hosting the World Chess Championship match Anand – Topalov is an acknowledgment of the prestige of our Federation!
Dr. Sergiev, would you please tell us how this match turned into reality?
The road to this match was a hard one. Three years ago, when the International Federation (FIDE) didn't think twice to eliminate Veselin Topalov from the list of participants in World Chess Championship Tournament in 2007 in Mexico, we couldn't even dream about such thing. But we never faltered in our faith that Topalov has his right and shouldn't be deprived by administrative methods from competing again for the title. Such are sports: today you are on the top, the next day you are not, but you start competing again for the title from a lower step. After exchanging several letters with the FIDE President, Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov,we were given admission to the meeting of the Presidential Board in Tallin (Estonia) in June 2007, where we stated our case. At this meeting the highest officials of FIDE took the rightest decision possible by not only changing the, I would say 'discriminative' system of Competing for the title, but as well letting Topalov in the next cycle 2008-2010 directly from the semi-finals. This way he had to face the winner of the World Cup 2007 in Hantimansiysk – Gata Kamsky. FIDE didn't manage to organize this match for the whole 2008, the reasons behind that are well known. Finally, in spite of the reluctance some officials who obviously intended to postpone it indefinitely and cause its failure, the match came to reality thanks to our relentless persistence. After signing a contract during the Chess Olympics in Dresden in November 2008, thing came back to normal. The forthcoming duel between Vesko and the reigning World Champion V.Anand become fact after the victory in the Challengers Match. This event will have great significance for the entire chess community as it prevents arising of a new crisis and ends with the old system of privileged and outsiders. I consider that at the moment main role play competitive results. Can't help but mention that the essential part for organizing both Topalov – Kamsky match, as the forthcoming one between Anand and Topalov, belongs to the Bulgarian Chess Federation and to our country.
There were other candidates but Bulgaria has been unanimously chosen by the FIDE Congress as a host. Your comments?
It is normal that there are many candidates for organizing an World Chess Championship Match. This is a highly prestigious event. It is no coincidence that only 46 matches and 3 tournaments of such rank are organized in so many years and only a few countries were lucky to host them It seems that the organizing effort was easier in the past. Nowadays, there are strict requirements, as well as lots of demands from the competitors and their teams. Last but not least, is the 'fair play' aspect – preventing external influence etc.
Nevertheless, there were candidates to organize the match between V.Anand and V.Topalov. Besides our Federation, till the determine by FIDE deadline 30 September 2009 there were applications from Turkey and Singapore. Those candidacies were not accidental. During the last years chess in neighboring Turkey is on the rise: every year they organize dozens of high level chess events; Turkish Chess Federation enjoys substantial funds and has one of the most modern chess clubs situated on 1000 square meters. Istanbul hosted the Chess Olympics in 2000 and will receive again the chess elite in 2012. Holding a World Chess Championship event would fit perfectly with the efforts for chess popularity in this country. Situation in Singapore is very similar. Chess becomes recently very popular in South-East Asia and it gradually turns into a center of prestigious events. However, both candidacies offered lower prize fund than us, which proved to be decisive. The Congress of FIDE held in October 2009 in Kalitea (Greece) unanimously charged our Federation with organizing the match. The reason for this were the positive comments about the Topalov – Kamsky event and other international competitions held in our country recently, as well as firmly expressed government support. Delegates at the FIDE Congress were pleasantly surprised by the letter of our Prime Minister Mr. Boiko Borisov, which declared his full commitment with the organization and the course of this match.
FIDE has it clear that it becomes harder to find a neutral organizer who would cover the huge prize fund and create all the necessary conditions. So, their trust towards Bulgaria is not surprising but is backed up by many reasons.
How are the preparations going?
This match is of exceptional significance not only to both competitors but as well for the Bulgarian Chess Federation, Ministry of Sports, and I would even say for the entire country, as you don't hold such high level competition on daily basis. That is why we have a detailed plan for the preparations and the course of the match and will do whatever it takes that it goes at a very high level. Our goal is to create the best possible conditions for both players, as well as to anyone that comes at the Military Club in Sofia to watch the games or to take part in any of the accompanying events.
What exactly is done till now and what is yet to be done? The preparatory works in the playing hall and other premises of the Military Club began the very moment when was finished the inspection by FIDE, which took place from 8th till 11th February. Sofia was visited by the Vice President of FIDE Mr. Georgios Makropoulos - supervisor of this event, Mrs. Aruna Anand - wife and manager of the World Champion, and Mr. Hans-Walter Schmidt – representative of Anand's team. All details were agreed during the discussions. Our guests got familiar with the place and conditions we offered and gave their recommendations for solving some details. Almost unanimously we agreed on the following issues:
Competitors will be arriving escorted by National Security Service to the parking lot behind the Military Club, and from there through the back entrance will proceed to the stage. In a specially equipped lobby in front of it they will be searched for any electronic devices. The entrance they used will be locked during games, the Chief Arbiter will keep the key;
From the stage to competitors' rest rooms will be built a light construction passage that will isolate public view. The will be two rest rooms and both will be accessible to any of the two players;
The stage will be equipped according to FIDE requirement and the match contract provisions. The most important part is that it will be separated from the audience with a special curtain that will allow observing everything on stage while being impenetrable for the competitors In In such a way they will be prevented from visual contact with anyone in the hall.
Audience will use the central entrance, but not directly into the playing hall but the passage to its right. The check for cell phones and other electronic devices will be conducted there;
The hall will be fully shade without any sunlight;
Games will be transmitted on-line live. There will be screens in the playing hall, the press center and the FIDE room. In the hall on the base floor facing Av. 'G.S.Rakovski', where famous grandmasters will comment the games, will be installed a large screen as well as between the columns at the balcony on the second floor so that everyone passing the adjacent streets may view what is happening on stage. This way we try not only to advertise chess, and this match in particular, but to make feel more inhabitants and visitors of our capitol to be part of it;
An exposition of chess themed paintings of the artist Darina Yaneva and a philatelic one for Krasimir Lilov to show his collection of Bulgarian philatelic products will be held.
Unlike the previous match Topalov – Kamsky that took place in February past year in the National Cultural Palace, this time we discuss a festival with many accompanying events, by which to enable the chess fans in Sofia during those days to enjoy an unrepeatable atmosphere. We plan the chess festivals to begin on 17th April, 5 days before the Opening Ceremony for the match. That includes: from 17 till 23 April - open tournament, from 24 till 30 April - 2nd open tournament 'Asenova – Ivanova memorial', a big blitz tournament, in the process of negotiating are match in rapid play form 6 games between the champions of Bulgaria and Serbia and a match between the ladies' teams of both countries; fifth, final for its 2nd edition, tournament from the circuit 'M tel masters junior' and others. All these events will take place from 09:00 till 15:00 - during different hours than the match. We prepare other pleasant surprises for the chess fans.
Traditionally, envelope, postcard, postage stamp and initial postmark designed by the artist Georgy Yankov will be printed. We prepare to publish a book 'Anand vs. Topalov and Bulgarian chess players' and many other things.
World Championship matches have always been the center of chess community attention. What kind of feelings are you experiencing now, as well how about later during the the event when organizers' actions are scrutinized?
We realize the huge response that will and already is generating this match. As you say any our action is scrutinized and we are not allowed any mistake. It is a good thing that we passed the first inspection by FIDE, at the end of March or first days of April they will be back to see everything we have accomplished. This way any requirement will be fulfilled at the right moment. The previous match was different. Everything had to be solved on the run during last few days. It's true, we had very little time to prepare and there weren't scheduled such preliminary inspections. All this makes me believe that during the course of the match there will be no unreasonable demands by the competitors and their teams. The match supervisor Mr. G.Makropoulos should assist for this. The supervisor position was introduced recently супервайзър in order to help organizers understand to requirements and to counter any unreasonable demands. He will 'cushion' the tension between the organizers both players' teams.
The reactions for the match will be formed by the quality on the on-line transmission and by the journalist covering the events in the playing hall in the Military Club. We took care for both aspects to be on high level. For on-line coverage is created an exclusive program and is hired a special server. By a built in the hall camera people may watch worldwide not only the games but as well the behavior of the players. We introduced this during the previous match, and after the positive comments will use it now. We plan special attention to the press and will attempt to create the best possible conditions for them to do their job. Press center will be equipped with two screens and they will be situated in one of the most beautiful halls in the Military Club. During their work they will be assisted by the comments for the audience done by famous grandmasters from Bulgaria and abroad. They will be provided daily with express news bulletin with any information they may need.
No matter of everything we do, I can't say I'm satisfied. There is always more to wish for. We already have vast experience organizing international chess events at highest level and we know that even if everything seems perfect, there are still things that could have been done. We know that on how we organizing this event depends for long terms the prestige of our federation, chess players and country. We have a very good start potential but we have to fully develop it.
In conclusion, I'd like to express my certainty that this match, unique in its nature for more than 120 years of World Chess Championship events, will have its deserved place in chess history and will serve as a model of modern attitude of competitors, organizers and officials during future events.
Thank you, Dr. Sergiev!
Interview by GM Ventzislav Inkiov
