World Chess Championship 2013 Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen at Chennai Hyatt Regency: fide
.
Showing posts with label fide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fide. Show all posts

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Magnus Carlsen beats Viswanathan Anand: Faking News' Most-Believable Satirical Tweet Feed

Posted by World Chess Championship 2013 News Blog Sunday, November 24, 2013
Magnus Carlsen beats Viswanathan Anand: Faking News' Most-Believable Satirical Tweet Feed at the World Chess Championship in Chennai. If you are in India, you will truly connect with this and have a great laugh ;)



Friday, November 8, 2013

Anand, Carlsen Chennai World Chess Championship 2013 Official Match Promotional Video

Posted by World Chess Championship 2013 News Blog Friday, November 8, 2013
Viswanathan Anand versus Magnus Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai. The first game will be played on Saturday: Here is the official match promo video by All-India Chess Federation


Friday, September 20, 2013

Doping Tests mandatory for Anand, Carlsen at World Chess Championship 2013 in Chennai

Posted by World Chess Championship 2013 News Blog Friday, September 20, 2013
The world chess governing body FIDE is working closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to prevent and monitor doping in professional chess. While general opinion is divided on the validity of the tests, Fide vice-president Israel Gelfer says the world chess body is a signatory to the WADA code.

“Chess may not be an Olympic sport but we are part of the International Olympic Committee. Our association with WADA and the IOC means that we are serious about doping control,” says Gelfer.

Gelfer told journalists in Chennai so
me time back that the FIDE medical team would monitor the World Chess Championship match 2013 between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen in Chennai as well! 


“Urine samples from both Anand and Carlsen would be taken during the tournament. The medical team has Fide’s mandate to test the players randomly,” said Gelfer.

A doping test was also conducted on both Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand during the World Chess Cha
mpionship 2012. Yes, the tests were negative! A joint press conference to be addressed by Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik had to be delayed and held separately in 2008 because of the doping test. Anand had, at that time said, the dope tests were pointless. Read an excellent article by Bill Wall on the subject.


FIDE has conducting dope tests at major chess tournaments including the Chess Olympiad and the Candidates matches. The official website of Fide also has an advisory section on the subject. 

Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk had created quite a stir when he had refused to submit a urine sample for a drug test at the Chess Olympiad in Dresden in 2011. However, it later came out that he was so upset over his loss to Gata Kamsky that he did not wish to speak to the chess officials pursuing him after his "heartbreak". A nice article on the entire 'scandal' at Chessbase.

Drug tests were first conducted at international chess tournaments in 2001 with WADA categorising chess as a "low risk sport".

Endurance is extremely necessary in long chess matches. Despite not being a sport like football or athletics, doping could be used by a chess player to maintain alertness and delay exhaustion. Chess games at top tournaments are normal to go from five to six hours in men's professional chess. 

Gelfer told journalists, "Chess has a long way to go before becoming an Olympic discipline because in many countries it is not considered a sport. But proper doping control methods will help the cause of the game in the long run.”

Fide Handbook

Chapter 14 - Doping and Drug Use

14.1. FIDE, in close collaboration with the National Chess Federations, the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committees dedicates its efforts to ensuring that in chess the spirit of ‘Fair Play’ prevails, leads the fight against doping in sport and takes measures in order to prevent endangering the health of competitors. FIDE has accepted the World Anti-Doping Code and its international standards. Within FIDE the body responsible for this policy is the Medical Commission.
14.2. The Commission will agree from time to time, with the International bodies, on the list of prohibited substances and methods of doping that are applicable to chess players. The Commission will be responsible for the Anti-Doping regulations and their execution.

The Fide medical commission is entrusted with the following tasks:

  • The MED shall organize anti-doping control in the major FIDE Events, at the request of the Events Commission, the Commission for World Championships & Olympiads and after consultation with the PB. 2.8.2
  • The MED shall prepare anti-doping regulations for the approval by the GA and shall enforce them when duly approved. 2.8.3
  • The MED shall advise and inform the PB on anti-doping matters. 2.8.4
  • The MED shall appoint a representative to be present at all events where anti-doping control is carried out. 2.8.5
  • The MED shall make recommendations and propose amendments, as it sees fit, in its field of competence.


Chess WADA – Anti-Doping Policy, Nutrition and Health
The 2013 WADA Prohibited List and Monitoring Program can be found at: http://list.wada-ama.org/

The most relevant banned substances for chess are:
• Amphetamines – e.g. Adderall, Ritalin
• Ephedrine and Methylephedrine – Prohibited by WADA when its concentration in urine is greater than 10 micrograms per milliliter
• Pseudoephedrine is prohibited when its concentration in urine is greater than 150 micrograms per milliliter

Substances not present on the Prohibited List but represented in the Monitoring Program:
• Caffeine – Included in WADA 2013 Monitoring Program and relevant for in-competition testing only. Any test reading of less than 400 milligrams poses no problem.
• Codeine – A common ingredient in, for example, preparations used to treat coughs and stomach upsets. Any dosage is highly unlikely to be significant when taken in normal therapeutic quantities.

Psychopharmacological Cognitive Enhancement The notion of ‘cognitive enhancing’ drugs has gained periodic attention in the media and it is clear that such pharmacology has the potential to be of benefit in chess, an essentially cognitive sport. Modafinil, Adderall andRitalin are potentially implicated.

Modafinil is primarily prescribed for the treatment of shift work sleep disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness – its main function is to improve wakefulness. However, it has been seen to produce apparent cognitive enhancement effects in healthy non-sleep-deprived people though it is unclear whether these effects are sufficient or durable enough to consider it to be a cognitive enhancer.

Whilst Modafinil has been shown to improve some aspects of working memory, such as digit manipulation and pattern recognition memory, the results related to spatial memory, executive function and attention are equivocal.

Adderal and Ritalin are primarily prescribed for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Adderall is primarily a mixture of four amphetamine salts whilst Ritalin is a psychostimulant with some structural and pharmacological similarities to cocaine.
Magnus Carlsen's views on drug testing

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen had aired his views to Associated Press (as carried by VG Nett) in 2011 on the subject of doping in chess when FIDE had announced that Carlsen would be part of a pilot project on dope testing for chess players. 

Carlsen said, "For me it is unthinkable to do such a thing, but it's not a big deal." 

"If I have to report where I am all the time, I'll have to think more about it. I could get used to it, but it seems quite unnecessary."

But does he think it is possible to take restorative pills to enhance one's performance? "I suppose that is possible. But in order to perform well you would have to take things during the game. For my own part I need no hocus pocus in order to perform."

Does he think that some players are using doping? "In the end I simply trust my opponents. In addition, it is so incredibly damaging for people to be taking drugs. Maybe some are doing it. But I think I can beat them anyway." 

On Ivanchuk's case, Carlsen said, "It was unfortunate that this happened after he had lost Ukraine medal in the final round. On the other hand he obviously should have been professional enough to handle it."

On the Lance Armstrong doping scandal that revealed the seven-ti
me Tour de France winner's activities, Carlsen said, "He not only cheated, but also pushed others into doping, using extortion to keep everything under wraps for many years. I think it's possible to forgive people who cheat and get caught, but the way he kept on with it means he deserves the hard fall."

Well, for now we're sure neither Viswanathan Anand or Magnus Carlsen would be held for doping in Chennai at the World Chess Championship 2013. Their powerhouse chess play doesn't need any drugs -- it's enhanced already ;)

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Cheating Impossible at World Chess Championship Viswanathan Anand vs Magnus Carlsen Match 2013

Posted by World Chess Championship 2013 News Blog Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Not that the integrity of either World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand or World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen is doubted, yet the players will have to reach the playing hall at Hotel Hyatt Regency, in Chennai, 10 minutes before the start time of the game. 

We did witness an elaborate security check for players at the recently-concluded World Cup in Tromso, Norway. Something similar will be implemented in Chennai. It is the entire chess community's responsibility to ensure that fair play is endorsed at all levels in the sport. 

A mandatory security will be conducted on both the chess players. Only the players and stewards shall be allowed in the actual playing area except with the permission of the Chief Arbiter or his Deputy. Both players will have access to the same toilet facilities during the games. There will be no separate rest rooms for the players during the games. Both players shall use the same rest lounge area which shall be on/at the stage and visible by the Arbiter and the spectators, according to the FIDE regulations.

During the playing session the following additional regulations shall be in force:
- The players are not permitted to bring into the playing area telephone, technical and other equipment extraneous to play, which may in any way disturb or upset the opponent. The Chief Arbiter shall decide what constitutes extraneous equipment liable to offend the opponent. 
- A player may communicate with an arbiter. 
- During the playing session, a player may leave the playing area only with the permission of the Chief Arbiter and only if he is accompanied by one of the arbiters.
- The games will be played in a soundproof area that would be cut off from the audience and journalists by a glass partition.

Yes, Anand and Carlsen will have to fight it out one-on-one, in their heads alone!

For any infringement of these rules, the Chief Arbiter shall have the right to impose a fine of not more than 5,000 (five thousand) euro. The player may protest to the Appeals Committee in accordance to the proceedings laid out in the FIDE handbook.

The FIDE President shall nominate, from within the Presidential Board, three members of the Appeals Committee one of whom shall be Chairman. All protests must be submitted in writing to the Appeals Committee not more than two (2) hours after the finish of the relevant playing session, or the particular infringement complained against.

The Appeals Committee may decide on the following matters:

a) an appeal against a decision by an arbiter,
b) a protest against a player's behavior,
c) a complaint alleging false interpretation of the regulations,
d) a request for the interpretation of specific regulations,
e) a protest or complaint against any participant, or
f) all other matters which the Appeals Committee considers important.

If possible, the Appeals Committee shall reach a decision not more than two (2) hours after the submission of a protest. The appeals process shall include written representations and a written decision. The Appeals Committee shall endeavor to find binding solutions that are within the spirit of the FIDE motto, Gens Una Sumus. Each protest must be accompanied by a deposit fee of €3000 (three thousand Euros) or the equivalent in local currency. This can also be done if the player makes a written request that FIDE withholds the fee from his prize money. If the protest is accepted, the fee shall be returned. If the protest is rejected, the fee may be forfeited to FIDE. The written decision of the Appeals Committee arising from any dispute in respect of these regulations shall be final.

If required, the FIDE President will appoint a FIDE Presidential Board member as FIDE Supervisor who will be above the Organising Committee in all issues involving:

a) fairness concerning treatment of both players in respect of organisational issues,
b) equal playing conditions
c) anti-cheating measures 
d) fair publicity of both players through the event's Press Office 

The FIDE Supervisor can request from the organizer and at their expense, any additional security arrangement he finds necessary, in logical terms, in order to secure a fair match and equal match conditions for the players. 

The Organizer has to implement the decisions of the FIDE Supervisor in all issues involving the above aspects before and during the match. Any decision of the FIDE Supervisor can be appealed by the players only to the Appeals Committee.

Since the match is not in a organised in a "neutral" country, Carlsen is allowed to suggest which member of the FIDE Presidential Board he prefers as FIDE Supervisor. Where the appointment of a FIDE Supervisor is not necessary, his functions and responsibilities shall be assumed by the Chairman of the Appeals Committee.

Other arrangements
FIDE shall ensure the playing hall and its environs meet at least the requirements of the FIDE Regulations for the Organization of Top Level Tournaments.

For security and administrative reasons, both participants with their teams, FIDE officials and accompanying persons are expected to stay in the official hotel.

After FIDE agrees with the Organizer on the arrangements in respect of the tournament hall, facilities, accommodation and meals, transportation, telecommunication, ceremonies, etc., no objections from the participants shall be accepted. Both Carlsen and Anand have already inspected and okayed the venue.

Playing Hall Inspection
The Players shall be entitled to inspect the accommodation arranged for them at the Venue three (3) days before the first game of the FWCM match and shall be entitled to make reasonable requests regarding such accommodation which the organizer shall use all reasonable endeavors to accommodate. 

The Players – shall inspect the playing hall in the presence of the Chief Arbiter and representatives of FIDE and the organizer, two (2) days before the first game of the FWCM at 3 pm. The Organizer shall use all reasonable endeavors to satisfy the reasonable requests of the players in relation to the playing hall. 

In the event of a dispute between the Players as to the condition and suitability of the playing hall, the FIDE Supervisor, if any, otherwise Chairman of Appeals Committee, shall decide about such dispute. His decision shall be final and binding. -- B&W Desk

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Anand vs Carlsen World Chess Championship 2013 Official Website chennai2013.fide.com to be Active Soon

Posted by World Chess Championship 2013 News Blog Tuesday, September 10, 2013
The official website chennai2013.fide.com for the World Chess Championship match Viswanathan Anand versus Magnus Carlsen 2013 could be online within 10 days, or by the latest, during the first week of October. 


The official website of the Anand versus Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012 match in Moscow.

Sources said the World Chess match official website would offer ticket sales, profiles of the participants, complete schedules etc as is the tradition with all world championship sites along with details for visiting journalists, contests, memorabilia sales and more.

The World Chess match official website will also offer a state-of-the-art hi-tech Internet live broadcast system on a par with what was witnessed in Moscow for the Viswanathan Anand versus Boris Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012. There will be contests during the live broadcasts and daily chess events as well.

Exclusive chess material for World Chess match only on official website according to FIDE rules

According to FIDE handbook, the players are expected to co-operate reasonably with the media. General interviews with them can be arranged through the Press Officer and the team managers, but it is understood that exclusive interviews shall be arranged only after the FWCM has been concluded. 


Sources also said some of the most entertaining and interesting chess commentators would be invited to be a part of the big celebration that the World Chess match is going to be in Chennai this November. 

Immediately after the completion of a game both players have to take part in post game press conferences, of not more than 20 minutes duration. The players must be present at all official functions during the match including official receptions, the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony. All of this will be broadcast live to the worldwide audience of chess fans.

It is interesting to note that the FIDE regulations require the players to to wear suits during the playing session. Players are allowed to wear branding of their personal sponsors only if these are not in conflict with the FWCM sponsors.

Indeed, chess is becoming a media sport and it is great that the forthcoming World Chess match is going to be a showcase of not just great chess, but two handsome and stylish sports icons of our times. We cannot wait enough! -- Rajat Khanna


P.S. In case of a domain change, we hope to inform you soon enough.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

World Chess Championship 2013 Venue: What FIDE, Carlsen, AICF, Anand and Everyone Said!

Posted by World Chess Championship 2013 News Blog Saturday, August 10, 2013
The World Chess Championship 2013 venue was decided after quite a few twists and turns. There was quite a bit of uncertainty over Chennai as the venue for the eagerly-awaited World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen after the World No 1 player from Norway expressed unhappiness with the FIDE's choice of venue.

FIDE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with All India Chess Federation and Tamil Nadu State Association for holding the World Championship match in Chennai, the home city of World Champion Viswanathan Anand stating that India had been offered to host the event last year itself when Russia had outbid India for hosting the Anand - Boris Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012 in Moscow.


It was feared that Carlsen's might refuse to sign the contract. According to Carlsen's agent, Espen Agdestein, they were not happy that the MoU was signed without following a bidding process as described in the FIDE regulations for the World Championship match. Agdestein said there should be an open bidding process and a neutral venue for the match and that the world body should have a dialogue with both players before arriving at a final decision.

There were rumours about a preferred World Chess Championship 2013 venue being New York, Miami, St Tropez, Paris and Tromso. The Norwegian town is already hosting the 2013 World Chess Cup and the 2014 World Team Olympiad.
 
Later, Norwegian Chess Federation president Jøran Aulin-Jansson even sent an open letter as a "formal complaint" to FIDE on the selection of Chennai as the venue for the 2013 World Chess Championship match. The letter called for a "fair and transparent procedure and competition for the selection of the organiser" while emphasising that the letter was not a campaign against the organisers in Chennai.

Soon thereafter, the French Chess Federation approached FIDE to have Paris as the World Chess Championship 2013 venue. "FFE, in collaboration with the City of Paris, on behalf of a group of private companies, is a candidate for organising the World Chess Championship 2013. The presidential office of FIDE, which will meet this weekend, should address the problem of opening a tender for this match. In fact, after the Match was given to Chennai (India), Carlsen and the Norwegian Chess Federation have officially requested that the game takes place in a neutral country," stated a press release supported by Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe and French chess federation president Philippe Mouttou. 
Finally, FIDE went ahead and signed a contract with the All India Chess Federation (AICF) to have Chennai as the venue of the World Chess Championship 2013 match. In a press release dated ay 6, 2013, FIDE defended the choice of Chennai as venue stating, "Since the Candidates’ Tournament ended, and GM M. Carlsen became the challenger of the coming World Championship Match there have been several developments, mails exchange between all parties (Carlsen, Anand, FIDE), questions asked, and also speculations. 

"FIDE would hereby like to put forward the current situation regarding this event.

Directly after the 2012 match was awarded to Moscow, FIDE agreed to grant an option to Chennai. The PB and its meeting in Armenia in January decided that FIDE and AGON, who holds the rights for organizing the whole cycle of the World Championship, were advised that India would take up its option organize the World Championship match. This was done on January 24 in Athens, where both parties agreed not to open a bidding procedure, but to grant an option to India, as requested. We should emphasize that according FIDE rules the World Championship cycle is not included in the list of events, for which FIDE is obliged to do so (like Olympiads, for instance). This has been deliberately done, because in many cases FIDE, having the priority in mind to secure the match and the cycle, was ready to give an option or even to grant the match if the proposal was attractive enough.

"Consequently three of the last matches were given to an organizer without a bidding procedure.

"On March 15th India asked to extend the option until April 10th and FIDE agreed to it because it was clear that the bid would be accepted and just needed an approval of the Tamil Nadu State Parliament, a session which took place on April 8th. One could ask why was the extension given to a date when the name of the challenger will be known already, and the simple answer is that FIDE, being convinced that the positive answer was just a matter of technicality, did not want to lose this bid for an alternative that gave no guarantee for a better result or any result at all.

"When the approval of the bid by India was published and FIDE representative was called to formalize it, on April 8th, GM Carlsen’s manager contacted FIDE and asked to have a meeting to discuss this matter before a formal move is done with India.

"Carlsen and FIDE’s representatives met in FIDE office on April 15th, when all claims were brought up by Carlsen’s representatives and were answered by FIDE. Among the points raised and answered we would like to emphasize one and this is the issue which was also raised in media – the question of neutrality. Unfortunately it has always proved difficult to find a sponsor to such a match when the name of the challenger is not known yet. Therefore most of matches in the past were organized in one of the participant’s countries. Consequently both World Champions Anand and Topalov played in their opponent’s country – a natural result of the situation.
"On that day both parties signed a paper whereby it was agreed to give Norway an option to come up with an organizer for half of the match, provided that India would accept such a solution.

"FIDE tried its hardest to convince India to split the match, but they refused India wanted to fulfill what has been approved by the government of the Tamil Nadu State and FIDE had to keep its obligations, and consequently an MoU was signed in Chennai on April 19th. One day later, the FIDE President visited France, where he got a proposal to organize the match in Paris. Mr Ilyumzhinov promised to bring the proposal before the Presidential Board. The French proposal was higher than the Chennai one, with more contributions offered. However, the Board decided (unanimously with one abstention) that FIDE must respect its obligation and thanked the French federation and the city of Paris for their proposal, hoping that there will be another opportunity to have a big event in Paris.

"FIDE has acted with full transparency during the whole process, trying its best to secure the match and standing by its obligations and reputation. FIDE will do everything to secure equal conditions for both players and also will try and still trying to increase the prize fund for the match.

FIDE wishes these two great players a successful match, and is sure that India, the homeland of Chess will bring to the world a fascinating event. Gens Una Sumus."
Magnus Carlsen smiles during a press conference in Oslo. --AP
It was feared, World No. 1 might refuse to play. However, he said he was determined. Carlsen issued a statement stating:

"After qualifying for the World Championship match by winning the London Candidates I have been highly motivated for, and looking forward to the World Championship match against reigning champion V. Anand.
"I’m deeply disappointed and surprised by the FIDE decision to sign a contract for the 2013 match without going through the bidding process outlined in the WC regulations, and for not choosing neutral ground. The bid from Paris clearly showed that it would be possible to have more options to choose from.The lack of transparency, predictability and fairness is unfortunate for chess as a sport and for chess players.

"My team and I will now start preparing for the match. The main thing now will be to come to an agreement with the Indian Chess Federation and FIDE regarding terms and conditions before and during the match. I really hope this process will run quick and smoothly.

"Lastly, I will not let the news from Baku diminish the joy and excitement derived from playing the top level Norway Chess tournament starting tomorrow."

So, Chennai it is - the venue of the World Chess Championship 2013 match. Hopefully, no one will be disappointed and the chess world will savour excellent chess from the two of the best chess Grandmasters there ever were in the world. (P.S. Viswanathan Anand, for his part, steered clear of the controversy hinting he was open to playing anywhere.)