Aryeh Davidoff: Please, read Lev Khariton's comment at
www.pakchess.com

Karpov withdraws in Benidorm
(December 1st, 2003)
This is what I have just read at TWIC by Mark Crowther:

The Russian GM Anatoli Karpov, former world champion, withdrew
yesterday from the Tournament of Stars, which is being contested in
the Hotel Bali in Benidorm. The reason was that he was declared losing
by forfeit in the first round. His opponent was the 16 years old
Teimour Radjabov, from Azerbaiyan, famous for having beaten Gary
Kasparov in the last edition of the Linares tournament.

Karpov, arriving directly from Brazil, argued that he had been
deprived of sleep due to the late arrival of his plane, and asked that
his game versus Radjabov should be played on Friday, in the morning.
After some consideration, Radjabov declined the proposal. Of the other
ten participants, a number proclaimed themselves annoyed because
Karpov is notorious for such incidents.

During a conversation with the press office of the tournament, Karpov
concluded: "I don't understand these idiots. Postponing a game for
reasons of force majeure is normal in our sport. My conclusion is that
the current bad situation in the chess world is not surprising,
because they deserve it?."

Karpov equally failed to appear for the second game, against the
Hungarian Judit Polgar, for which, according to the rules, he was
disqualified from the tournament by the arbiter.

My comment: Anatoly Karpov is the pride of world chess. I have no
doubt that all the participants of of the Benidorm tournament can
learn a lot from Karpov. By allowing to disqualify him from the
tournament, they are cutting their goose: they will always miss
something in their chess education. Besides, their behavior is immoral
simply on human grounds. Karpov is minimum 25 or 30 years older than
most of the participants and they should respect both his age and his
place in chess history.
In the past I wrote many negative and critical articles on Karpov. All
this, however, does not prevent me from being objective. The
disqualification of Karpov is another disgraceful episode in chess
history.

Also, as my readers know, I had all the support of Radjabov when
Kasparov went into hysteria over Radjabov's winning the beauty prize
for his victory over the 13th World Champion in Linares this year.
Unfortunately, Radjabov's insistence on Karpov's disqualification
sheds a bad light on Radjabov's image in the world of chess.
Gentlemanly behavior does not seem to be the trademark of the great
chess players born in Baku!

"Aryeh Davidoff" wrote in message
om...
Aryeh Davidoff: Please, read Lev Khariton's comment at
www.pakchess.com

Karpov withdraws in Benidorm
(December 1st, 2003)


My comment: Anatoly Karpov is the pride of world chess. I have no
doubt that all the participants of of the Benidorm tournament can
learn a lot from Karpov. By allowing to disqualify him from the
tournament, they are cutting their goose: they will always miss
something in their chess education. Besides, their behavior is immoral
simply on human grounds. Karpov is minimum 25 or 30 years older than
most of the participants and they should respect both his age and his
place in chess history.
In the past I wrote many negative and critical articles on Karpov. All
this, however, does not prevent me from being objective. The
disqualification of Karpov is another disgraceful episode in chess
history.

Also, as my readers know, I had all the support of Radjabov when
Kasparov went into hysteria over Radjabov's winning the beauty prize
for his victory over the 13th World Champion in Linares this year.
Unfortunately, Radjabov's insistence on Karpov's disqualification
sheds a bad light on Radjabov's image in the world of chess.
Gentlemanly behavior does not seem to be the trademark of the great
chess players born in Baku!


After a period of hesitation I`ve decided to answer to your letter (I don`t
know Aryeh`s, Lev`s or someone else).
I don`t understand the point of Karpov. If he were still a professional
chess player he shouldn`t be late even to such an unimportant (from
competitive point of view) chess event like rapid chess tournament in
Benidorm (it was however important from advertising point of view).

It`s said that Karpov is notorious for such late-comings so I assume that he
is not so innocent of the whole mess there in Benidorm. Yes, I agree with
you, double Aryeh and Lev, it`s a question of good manners but I doubt it
was only Radjabov`s fault.

Double regards as usual,
Jerzy

(Aryeh Davidoff) wrote in message . com...
Aryeh Davidoff: Please, read Lev Khariton's comment at
www.pakchess.com


My comment: Anatoly Karpov is the pride of world chess.

What a typo! Of course it should read:

Anatoly Karpov is the SHAME of world of chess.

Wlod

On 4 Dec 2003 07:27:59 -0800, (Wlodzimierz
Holsztynski) wrote:

[snip]

Anatoly Karpov is the SHAME of world of chess.


Wlod,
you just made me win some bucks, as I after reading Kharitons article
I had a bet with a friend that you were unable to avoind spitting out
another insult on Karpov. ROTFL

Andreas

Wlodzimierz Holsztynski wrote:

(Aryeh Davidoff) wrote in message . com...
Aryeh Davidoff: Please, read Lev Khariton's comment at
www.pakchess.com


My comment: Anatoly Karpov is the pride of world chess.

What a typo! Of course it should read:

Anatoly Karpov is the SHAME of world of chess.

Wlod

Wlod, Anatoly Karpov is the most avid stamp-collecter known to man
(philotologist) what is it about the cut of his dress that so excites
your indignation?..

Andreas Walkenhorst wrote in message . ..
On 4 Dec 2003 07:27:59 -0800, (Wlodzimierz
Holsztynski) wrote:

[snip]

Anatoly Karpov is the SHAME of world of chess.


Wlod,
you just made me win some bucks, as I after reading Kharitons article
I had a bet with a friend that you were unable to avoind spitting out
another insult on Karpov. ROTFL

Andreas

Ebvery penny counts. Enjoy.

But:

1. I have never insulted anybody, and certainly
it is hardly possibly to insult Karpov.

2. Words "were unable avoid" do not apply. I had no reason
to avoid rectify the careless statement. On the contrary,
it is a part of participation in the group.

3. To summarize, and withouit any insult, your
post is simply mean spirited. Should I write
that "you were unable to avoid another unfair
statement"?

Wlod

michael adams wrote in message ...
Wlodzimierz Holsztynski wrote:

(Aryeh Davidoff) wrote in message . com...
Aryeh Davidoff: Please, read Lev Khariton's comment at
www.pakchess.com


My comment: Anatoly Karpov is the pride of world chess.

What a typo! Of course it should read:

Anatoly Karpov is the SHAME of world of chess.

Wlod

Wlod, Anatoly Karpov is the most avid stamp-collecter known to man
(philotologist) what is it about the cut of his dress that so excites
your indignation?..

1. As a youngster he took advantage of Geller to prepare himself
against Spassky, when Geller just before thast was on Spassky's
team, preparing Spassky for Fischer. Thus the whole Spassky's
openning preparation was open to Karpov. Keres in his discrete
style had written about it later on. Spassky just won the USSR
championship(!), he had an excellent chance to defeat Fischer,
but psychologically and chessically he couldn't overcome the
unfairness of the match against Karpov. The youngster already
had shown his complete lack of honor and principles.

2. He enjoyed better material conditions then his opponent
in his first of the three matches against Korchnoy. The
unjust treatment of Korcznoy by the Societ chess Federation
didn't bother him. He always showed the readiness and greed
for grabbing any unfair advantage.

3. He has succeeded in reducing the young Kasparov's
participation in the high level competition thus denying
his potential competitor for the world champion title
a chance of full developement of his talent. (For a
contrast, Kasparov had supported the development of
young Kramnik's career).

4. Karpov and the Soviet Federation did everything to
avoid a match with Fischer. So, he became the first "World Champion"
who didn't bother to play a championship match.

Digression:
BTW, in my opinion Karpov had about 40% chance against Fischer.
It would be the first time that Fisher would have to meet
a strong player younger than himself. Fischer was afraid
of that too. If things were conducted honestly than not
Karpov but Spasski or Korchnoy would challenge Fischer
and they would have still a better chance to beat Fischer.
Spassky most likely would win and we would have a different
chess history. The multi-talented and versatile Spassky was
much more interesting player than Fischer.

5. Karpov was happy with the restriction on the Soviet chess
players, preventing them from winning any games against Karpov
especially in the international tournaments). When Spassky
won a top tournament ahead of karpov, he immeduiately was stripped
of his chess "stipend" and any benefits coming from the Soviet
Chess Federation. He could afford such a penalty. He had already
lived in the West (in France). For him the satisfaction of leaving
Karpov behind himself was worth it. Other Soviet players could not
afford such a luxury.

5. Karpov, The Societ Chess Federation and FIDE had allowed for so
many dirty maneuvers against Korchnoy during their first championship
match that I want even bother to list them here. Korchnoy almost won
anyway. He was clearly the better player at the time.

6. It was cool for Karpov that Korchnoy's son was beaten up
by the Soviet KGB thugs before their second world championship
match--typical Soviet blackmail. This situation was shameful
again for the whole chess world. Karpov would later brag about
his easy win anyway--what a despicable humanoid creature!

Digression. The Western Chess World had cooperated shamelessly
in harrassing Korchnoy (and other chess "dissidents"), thus
denying Korchnoy a proper preparation for his matches.

7. Karpov and the Soviet Federation had almost succeeded
in cancelling Kasparov-Korchnoy and Smyslov-Ribli matches
(Smyslov was supposed to be the collateral damage). This
was the way Karpov wanted to keep his champion's title.

Digression 1. The nonsense of equalizing the Karpov's abusive
use of the communist power and of the help which Kasparov got
from the his local party strong men was repeated many times.
Karpov used power to get unfair advantages, to remove his
opposition by any means it took. Kasparov got help to get what
he EARNED, what he should have gotten without any intervantion
--he was striving to get what every chessplayer was supposed to
have after the results which he had achieved. There is a difference
between calling on a strong guy to steal from you what is yours,
and calling a strong guy to protect you from stealing from you
and being robbed in the broad daylight.

Digression 2. Korchnoy (and Ribli) didn't have to play his match'
against Kasparov (resp. smyslov). He could chose to be declared
the winner by default. Instead, and in a contrast to Karpov, he
chose to play his dangerous opponent. He was fighting Kasparov
over the board magnificently before he lost. That's what makes
Korchnoy a greater player than Karpov.

8. When exhausted Karpov lost 2 games in a row against
Kasparov (the score became 5:3 in his favor), he asked
the chess authorities to resque him, which was against the
rules. He thought that he will rest and still keep his 5:3
advantage. For the first time the poor, dishonest ******* didn't
quite get the deal he was counting on. The new match had started
from scratch--poor, poor, oh how poor Karpov :-)

Digression. When Lasker got severely sick during the
match against Capablanca (Lasker had spent **months**
in the hospital after that match), he asked Capablanca
for adjournment. Capablanca had refused and Lasker promptly
resigned--it was that straight and simple and fair.

9. Karpov lost a candidate amtch against Short
(and Timman too, against the same Short). Then
he jumped to the occasion for playing a phony
FIDE chimpionship match between two losers--showed
no honor, no class, proved that the true title means
nothing to him; why should it, when he never got it
in the old fashion way, in a fair competition.
(And to Timman that match was just a joke and an occasion
to make a buck; I still wish that Timman had more class,
that he would treat the title with respect, that he would
set an example for other chess players).

The list can go on still further (e.g. the chimpionship
match against exhausted Anand; why, Karpov even claimed
later that it was Anand who had an advantage :-) :-)

Yes, Karpov is a very strong player, while he is
a very low creature, a poor excuse for a human being.
That's how he will be always remebered by the chess
history.

Regards,

Wlod

Wlodzimierz Holsztynski wrote (2003-12-06 01:37:27 PST):
Karpov and the Soviet Federation did everything to
avoid a match with Fischer. So, he became the first
"World Champion" who didn't bother to play a
championship match.

_
What did Karpov do to avoid a match with Fischer in
1974-5?

(Louis Blair) wrote in message . com...

Wlodzimierz Holsztynski wrote (2003-12-06 01:37:27 PST):
Karpov and the Soviet Federation did everything to
avoid a match with Fischer. So, he became the first
"World Champion" who didn't bother to play a
championship match.

_
What did Karpov do to avoid a match with Fischer in
1974-5?

Spasski could easily and more than once break his match
against Fischer and he would continue his champion tenure.
Instead, Spasski chose to play.

Korchnoy could say I have already won against Kasparov,
when Kasparov failed to show up on time for their candidate
match due to Karpov's and Soviet Federation manipulations.
Korchnoy had chosen to play.

Karpov could easily make a statement that 9:9 clause
is no big deal (indeed, it was not). He could say: I want
to play. Instead he chose to cooperate with the Soviet
Federation in avoiding ther math. He chose not to play.

Wlod

(Wlodzimierz Holsztynski) wrote in message . com...
(Louis Blair) wrote in message . com...

Wlodzimierz Holsztynski wrote (2003-12-06 01:37:27 PST):
Karpov and the Soviet Federation did everything to
avoid a match with Fischer. So, he became the first
"World Champion" who didn't bother to play a
championship match.

_
What did Karpov do to avoid a match with Fischer in
1974-5?

Spasski could easily and more than once break his match
against Fischer and he would continue his champion tenure.
Instead, Spasski chose to play.

Korchnoy could say I have already won against Kasparov,
when Kasparov failed to show up on time for their candidate
match due to Karpov's and Soviet Federation manipulations.
Korchnoy had chosen to play.

Karpov could easily make a statement that 9:9 clause
is no big deal (indeed, it was not). He could say: I want
to play. Instead he chose to cooperate with the Soviet
Federation in avoiding ther math. He chose not to play.

Wlod

Great,Wlod! Simply great! You are absolutely right! Karpov could habe
spurned the title as well as all the benefits and priviledges. He
simply did not have the guts to do so. Nobody would have arrested him,
nobody would have sent him to Siberia. In the worst case, he would
have traveled to Germany or the united States less than he used to.
I wonder, Wlod, what you think about the smaller fry, such guys as
Krogius, Averbach, Roshal,Damsky those who were sponging (and are
still) sponging on chess, those who are still on the surface today
cheating the new generations of chess players and fans. Theys could
have given up their "chess jobs" as well without risking their lives
and well-being of their families. Stalin had been dead for many years
by that time, and they would not have seen the gates of Lubianka from
inside.Nevertheless, Krogius, being the chief adminstartor of Soviet
chess was thwarting Tal's and Bronstein's visits to international
tournaments (for 14 years Bronstein was "sitting" in
Moscow!).NowKrogius is a US citizen! Averbakh wrote in 1976, soon
after Korchnoi's defection a letter to FIDE requesting FIDE to boycott
Korchnoi's participation in Candidates' matches an to expel him from
FIDE. Averbakh was at that time President ofthe USSR Chess Federation.
He was Korchnoi's life-long friend! Could he have abstained from
writing such a letter? Well,today he is respected by the entire chess
world, even by the ChessCafe publishers who brought his disgraceful
letter to the light of day. How about Roshal, Karpov's "attache de
press" during his matches with Korchnoi? Today he is the owner and
editor of "64 - Chess Review" magazine and the whole world respects
him. The world has a short memory, and probably, what we have today,
the total collapse of the World Championship system, the "all for
sale" attitude to chess so outspoken by Kasparov and other leading
chess players are nothing but "well-deserved" consequences of our
silent reconciliation with all those cowards,opportunists and
profiteers that have been ruling the roost for so many years?..
Aryeh Davidoff