TWIC is 30. First issue 17th September 1994.
FIDE World Chess Championships 2013 (Venue)
Norwegian Chess Federation formally call for bidding process for Anand-Carlsen
Mark Crowther - Friday 3rd May 2013
The Norwegian Chess Federation has written to FIDE on the issue of the venue of the upcoming World Chess Championship match between Viswanthan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.
The letter has also been made public in order to try and halt what seems an almost unstoppable momentum within FIDE towards awarding the match to Chennai without a bidding process.
FIDE seem to be honouring an agreement to give India first option on hosting the match in the wake of awarding Gelfand-Anand to Moscow. Carlsen and his representatives say "it is not clear that FIDE has the right to grant Chennai an option." They are calling for FIDE to "facilitate a procedure that enables other interested parties to bid for the event". Full letter below.
Open letter to FIDE by the Norwegian Chess Federation
Federation Internationale Des Echecs
Mr. President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov / Presidential board
Oslo, fredag, 3. mai 2013
Dear Mr. Ilyumzhinov / Presidential board
With reference to the discussion that for some time has been going on between FIDE and Magnus Carlsen’s representatives with regard to the venue for the upcoming FIDE World Championship Match, the Norwegian Chess Federation finds reasons to intervene in this dialogue with a formal letter to FIDE.
As you are aware of Mr. Magnus Carlsen has expressed dissatisfaction with the plans to arrange the World Championship Match in Chennai, India without having any formal competition on the venue for this match. Mr. Carlsen’s view has been presented to FIDE both in emails and in a meeting in Athens with his manager and his lawyer.
It is our understanding of the rules and regulations for the FIDE World Championship Match 2013 that any federation or sponsor may bid for being an organizer. We strongly urge FIDE to facilitate a procedure that enables other interested parties to bid for the event. Furthermore FIDE must, based on the regulation consider all bids before making a final decision. From the regulations, it is not clear that FIDE has the right to grant Chennai an option.
We maintain, as expressed by Mr. Carlsen, that it will be an advantage both for the players and FIDE to have a fair and transparent procedure and competition for the selection of the organizer and also for the reputation of chess in general.
Since the Championship is to be held in November, there will be acceptable time to consider other bids and make a qualified decision in due time prior to the event.
The Norwegian Chess Federation expects that FIDE will follow its own regulation for the World Championship Match enabling others to bid for the event as was the procedure for selection of the organizer for the 2014 Chess Olympiad.
We would like to emphasize that this is not a campaign against Chennai as an organizer; it is merely a request to follow the rules and principles of transparency and fairness.
This letter should be regarded as formal complaint on the process for selecting the organizer for the World Championship Match 2013.
Sincerely,
Jøran Aulin-Jansson
President
Norway Chess federation
Tlf. + 47 91 33 22 42
e-post: jj@sci-group.net
