On Oct 31, 4:00*pm, ChessFire wrote:
English and Bulgarian grandmasters continue feud during European Team
Championship
Leonard Barden
Saturday 31 October 2009

There is history between English and Bulgarian grandmasters. Four
years ago when Nigel Short was a commentator at the world championship
in San Luis, Argentina, some players told him of suspicions that
Veselin Topalov, who won the title after a fast start, was receiving
outside help. Short later called for an inquiry, though he did not
join the cheating claim. Nothing was ever proved, but Topalov and his
manager blamed Short for damaging the current world No1's reputation.

So last year at Corus Wijk aan Zee Topalov's aide, Ivan Cheparinov,
refused Short the traditional pre-game handshake, and was forfeited.
After an appeal the game was rescheduled along with the handshake, and
Short won in impressive style.

Relations were still cool last weekend when Bulgaria and England were
paired in the European Team Championship at Novi Sad. The Bulgarians
were favourites, since the British champion David Howell and Short as
his coach were away at the world junior in Argentina. But weakened
England got a gift one minute after the start when a Bulgarian's
mobile phone rang, an automatic zero under Fide's draconian rules. The
incident, captured on an internet video, rocked the Bulgarians and,
although Topalov won, Cheparinov was crushed and England won 2.5-1.5.

Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk

Topalov's manager Silvio Danailov is a sleazy, shady character. It's
thought by some that he was sending coded hand signals to Topalov at
San Luís 2005. His accusation that Kramnik was cheating in his 2006
match with Topalov was a classic case of the pot calling the kettle
black.