  | Interviews |
| UPDATED: Exclusive press conference of the world champion Ruslan Ponomariov, 17.10.2003 On the free day of the European Team Chess Championship, the reigning World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov appeared at a press conference and answered a number of questions about his canceled match with Garry Kasparov, his attitude towards FIDE, and his plans regarding the future.
Ruslan Olegovich, what is your assessment of the intermediary role of FIDE between you and Kasparov, to make this match possible?
("Chess Weekly"-Moskow)
I think that the role of FIDE is to organize the World Championships and to look for ways to save them. Unfortunately this time was the other way round. FIDE could not save the match. Initially it was scheduled to be played in Buenos Aires but did not materialize due to financial reasons. Then it should have been staged in Yalta, but no common ground was found. The situation is rather complicated. I think that there is still hope the match with Kasparov to take place, as long as the contradictions are eliminated by way of bilateral compromise. There is another issue, though. Where would such a match be played and what the conditions would be.
I am highly interested in the forthcoming FIDE Congress that will be held in Greece in early November. What decisions will be made there? I would like to know more about the plans and orientation of the FIDE President, regarding the World Championship matches. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the Congress personally, because at that time I should play in the Kapdag (France) tournament. I have to yield to my commitments. At the Congress we must learn Vladimir Kramnik's view about the situation. When the match Ponomariov-Kasparov was canceled, the match between Kramnik - Leko is quite uncertain. Maybe the best thing to do is to get together and review once more the Prague agreement, in order to cone out with the most proper and constructive resolution. It should be possible for all strong players in the world to contest the World Champion title on equal terms.
Who was responsible for the canceled match Ponomariov - Kasparov?
(Radio "Liberty" - Moscow)
I have always wanted to play with Kasparov. I agreed with FIDE to find the common way of understanding. As a matter of fact I refused to look for any financial compensations for the spoiled match in Buenos Aires, which didn't take place because of FIDE. Our disagreements were about tigh-break in case of score 6:6,so that we pretended one of the arbiters to be Russian. It was planned a meeting between me, Kasparov and Ilyumzhinov in Kiev, in order to solve our problems. I didn`t know why Kirsan Ilyumzhinov made that decision to cancel the match.
You think that the match was canceled because of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. What decision he was supposed to make after you had refused to sign the contract? It is known that the president of the Chess Federation of Ukraine Viktor Petrov considers that there were specific influences there, because of which there was no possibility to manage the match. What is your opinion about that?
In my opinion Ilyumzhinov could accept my proposals. I just wanted ordinary things - one of the arbiters to be Russian. After all , the suggestion about my disqualification was added.
As far as it is concerned to Viktor Petrov, I don`t know what kind of influences in Ukraine he had in mind. I think our country made a great effort to save the match. After it hadn`t been staged in Buenos Aires our president Leonid Kuchma did everything to be in Yalta. Unfortunately, this didn`t happen.
Obviously Ilyumzhinov has his own rules. And when it was already known, that the match should be in Ukraine, there shouldn`t be any compromises for the hosts.
Garry Kasparov openly accused Silvio Danailov, your manager, that he bears most of the blame for the failure of the match. Were there any additional financial claims from your side?
("24 Hours" - Daily , Bulgaria)
I think this is ridiculous. My opinion is, that Ilyumzhinov canceled the match and he has the whole responsibility about that. I cannot understand, what were his real motives. He took this decision by himself. Perhaps when he was in Moscow he called Garry Kasparov to consult him how to act in this situation. Perhaps Garry Kasparov was afraid of plying the match in Ukraine. This could be the reason.
Ilyumzhinov was absolutely sure that this is the last match between Ponomariov-Kasparov in this cycle and declared that the forth World Knockout System Championship will be held in the end of the year. Do you planned to participate in this Championship? If you win once again, are you going to play with Garry Kasparov?
("Chess Thought" magazine - Bulgaria)
I think that searching for an opponent of Garry Kasparov in a World Championship sounds a little bit strange. This will not lead to any solution of the problem. The new opponent may insist on higher requirements even than me. Finding only one World Champion and creating a clear system is the main point up to now. We need such a system to give an opportunity to all chess players to compete for this title. For a better play they should know all the rules, deadlines and other conditions.
In my opinion, the knockout - system is completely regular. I personally won my title in such a competition. I assume it will be better if Kasparov, Kramnik and Leko also participate in such a tournament, but that will raise a number of questions.
I myself don't have any plans to participate in such a competition up to now.
What is your attitude towards the greatests in chess?
("7 Days Sport" - newspaper, Bulgaria)
In my opinion, it is important for every chess player is to know the work and history of his ancestors, because they are not only a "source" but also teachers. When Ilyumzhinov canceled our match with Kasparov it was quite interesting for me to read Kasparov's book " Безлимитный поединок". I friend of mine gave it to me. The situation with the match, in question, is very similar to what Kasparov has written - then Karpov was playing for FIDE, and Kasparov was against it. Now it turns out that Kasparov is with FIDE, and I myself should struggle against FIDE.
It is obvious that you do not plan to play in the forthcoming knockout World Championship. In a few months there will be a new World Champion, who will replace you. Does it bother you at all?
Without any comparison, my prediction is that you will become the second champion to relinquish his title without struggle, after Fisher.
My only wish is to play chess and to protect my title in an appropriate environment. That seems impossible, so…I'm not sure. Perhaps, an alternative competition should be organized. Maybe the better thing is to honor Kasparov the World Champion title and then an accurate and clear competitive system to be created.
I aim at equal conditions for every chess player trying to get the precious title - a World Champion.
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| GAMES ON LIVE |
11 - 20.10.2003
The championship is over.
| 9th round |
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Results:
Multimedia CD:
