Chess: Title battle hots up
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE long-awaited announcement of Intel's sponsorship for the Professional Chess Association world championship was delivered this week. In the battle between the PCA and Fide, it left the initiative firmly with the PCA, but fell short of striking the decisive blow that some members of the new organisation had perhaps hoped for.
On the plus side for the PCA, they have dollars 1.2m ( pounds 800,000) in prize money for the world championship eliminating matches and a new 'Speed Chess Grand Prix'. The first of the speed events will be held - thanks to Garry Kasparov's contacts in high places - inside the Kremlin in Moscow.
The PCA have also promised to launch a new international rating list for the top 500 players. This will both give back ratings to Short and Kasparov, who were excommunicated from the Fide list, and will open up another front in the battle for control of world chess.
Finally, and perhaps most significantly, the PCA have said that both Karpov and Timman have expressed interest in playing in the speed events. With the PCA/Intel speed event not conflicting with any official Fide competition, it could pave the way for an eventual negotiated peace in the war over the world championship.
On the minus side, the announcement did not extend beyond the first dollars 1.2m and the preliminaries of the world championship, despite the fact that a dollars 6-7m package had been widely reported several weeks ago. Sources close to the negotiations suggest that Intel have an option on sponsorship of Kasparov's title defence in 1995, but were not willing to commit themselves fully at this stage.
Meanwhile, Fide are still scratching around for sponsors for the next round of their Candidates' matches. If they cannot match the Intel figures, their 'official' title will lose further credibility points. For the record, the line-up in both competitions is as follows:
PCA: Short-Gulko, Kramnik- Kamsky, Anand-Romanishin, Tiviakov-Adams. All playing for the right to challenge Kasparov.
Fide: Salov-Timman, Anand- Kamsky, Gelfand-Kramnik. The winners will be joined by Karpov in the semi-finals.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments