Keano wrote on 10/06/06 at 10:01:25:
You miss the point - he is not even considering Danailov´s actions in my opinion, all his energy is solely on the games - this would be typical Topalov strategy. For him to consider his managers actions is only a distraction at this stage - put yourselves in the players situation, it is hard enough to deal with playing at this level without having to worry about other stuff - that it is the trap Kramnik is falling into.
PS - comparisons with mafia bosses and dictators is over the top, Danailovs actions I condemn in strongest posible terms, but you cannot put the action of someone accusing his mans opponent of cheating in the same league as mafia bosses and dictators. We have seen these tactics before in World ch matches, it is not nice or gentlemanly, but unfortunately it happens. The Kramnik team need to deal with the situation better.
No Keano it is you that have missed the point completely, and I think that you have allowed adulation for Topalov's playing style to cloud your judgement. For the record I much prefer Topalov's playing style too, but that is not what is in question here, and I find your simplistic rationalisations ludicrous.
A) Topalov by not putting the muzzle on his employee Danialov and or forcing him to apologise is implicit approval - FULL STOP.
B) In fact, rather than stop it, Topalov allowed Danialov to continue his obscene and extremely distasteful attacks.
C)This is perhaps the most important point to realise and accept. Now listen carefully - It was not Topalov/Danailov's accusation of cheating that really derailed Kramnik, it upset him yes, but that could have been overcome. What could not have been overcome however was the clear outrageous and illegal actions of the appeals committee who later were forced to resign in disgrace. These actions led by force to Kramnik being unable to play game 5, and then incredibly being forfeited at a critical point when a time out should have been called to restore the situation.
D) Kramnik chose to continue despite being robbed of a point, while Topalov on the otherhand said he would not have continued the match if the cheating accusation appeal laid by his employee Danailov was not upheld. Therefore Topalov by his stance was ensuring that one way or the other he woud retain his fide title, either by default or by nefarious means.
E) If you persued the Chessbase site today, and read the open letter by GM Bartlomiej Macieja, you would realise that the forfeit of game 5 could have been reversed and it should have been, there is precedent for it.
F) The main reason why Topalov didn't field questions regarding the Fritz accusations is not so that he could devote all his time to preparation, thats crap - It's because he's embarrassed and cannot defend and indefensible position.
Sadly it is very difficult for many to understand a situation or empathise with an aggrieved party unless they have suffered a similiar fate, and that is truly unfortunate.
This must rank as one of the most contemptable World Championship matches in recent memory, not so much for the outrageous accusation laid but for how it was dealt with.
Lets hope that Kramnik can somehow rebound from all this and take the title, or else I fear that the future of organised chess is grim indeed. On reflection it maybe better for chess as an organised sport to hit rock bottom, as experience tells me that things usually have to get much worse before they get better.
Its amazing what people are so willing to accept once its done. I am curious to see how all this will eventually play out, and I don't mean on the board, its way beyond that now.
Toppy
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Kramnik-Topalov match (Read 88938 times)
