Ten reasons to accept the peace plan
24.05.2002 The signing of the unity
plan in Prague on May 6th has led to a great deal of hope and discussion
in the chess world. Criticised by some it is staunchly defended by one of the
central players: Garry Kasparov. We asked Garry, who split with FIDE nine years
ago, about his peace treaty with the world chess federation. He sent us a list
ways it would impact the world of chess. More
FIDE, Kasparov, et al bury the hatchet
On May 6th, 2002 in Prague Bessel Kok convened a meeting that brought most
of the mighty in chess together. We saw Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Garry Kasparov,
Vladimir Kramnik and many others all in one room, signing the "peace plan"
which had been initiated by Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan's "Fresh Start".
We asked Garry what of the impact of the new peace plan would be on the world
of chess. He sent us the following ten points:
-
The world of chess will never be the same. It will enter the 21st Century
and become a mainstream sport.
- The creation of an undisputed world chess champion in classical chess is
something we have not had for nine years since Nigel Short and I left FIDE
in 1993.
-
The classical chess world title goes way back in history and is ten years
older than the modern Olympic games. Now it seems that after a decade of
turmoil, chess players and fans will get their wish, an undisputed world
chess champion.
-
United under one body, we have cleared the way for FIDE to embrace professional
management to do for chess what other sports have taken for granted for
years.
-
A byproduct of this unity will certainly be major commercial interest and
sponsors which will spawn major chess tournament events, classical, rapid
and blitz.
-
All leading grandmasters will prosper with a successful worldwide circuit
-
Chess can become a TV sport and sponsors and the TV networks will soon
realize the immense potential. While chess on TV is a potential, chess on
the internet is huge and will take the game live into a potential 100 million
households throughout the world.
-
With FIDE as the only body representing all of chess, entry into the Olympic
Games should happen quicker, and if chess enters the Olympics, it will be
universally recognized as a sport.
-
The grass roots of chess will also benefit if government funding is achieved.
-
Chess is a mixture of sport, social, cultural and educational endeavors
and we expect that chess in the classroom will increase on a world-wide
basis.
It will not be easy, it may not be quick, but it is there for the asking.
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