Reunification of the Chess World
Statement on behalf of Madame Nahed Ojjeh
and Einstein Group
Following the press conference given in Moscow by FIDE
President H.E. Kirsan Iljumzhinov and Garry Kasparov, Madame Nahed Ojjeh
(Paris) and the Einstein Group plc (London) would like to issue the following
statement.
- Einstein Group reaffirms its intention to go ahead with
its Classical Chess World Championship cycle as agreed in Prague beginning with
the Candidates Tournament in Dortmund, which will start on July 6th,
2002.
- Einstein Group will organise the resulting match for the
title of Classical World Chess Champion between Vladimir Kramnik and the winner
of Dortmund. This match will take place in April/May 2003.
- Einstein Group and Classical World Chess Champion
Vladimir Kramnik remain, therefore, fully committed to the agreement made in
Prague on the 6th May and support the idea of unification to be achieved after
the Einstein World Championship Match has taken place as described in that
agreement.
- The Candidates Tournament at Dortmund will be supported
by NAO Chess and Madame Nahed Ojjeh.
- Madame Nahed Ojjeh is pleased to announce that she will
provide an increased prize fund at Dortmund of EURO 300.000 (net of taxes).
Split: 1st: EURO 100.000; 2nd: EURO 80.000; 3-4: EURO
40.000; 5-8: EURO 10.000.
6. Madame Nahed Ojjeh and Einstein Group declare their
intention to cooperate in future projects including the Classical World Chess
Championship, Elite Classical Chess tournaments and to promote Chess in
learning and education, through school and internet projects.
Paris, 31 May 2002
Madame Nahed Ojjeh
London, 31 May 2002
Steve Timmins
(CEO Einstein Group)
The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of
TWIC, Chess & Bridge Ltd or the London Chess Center. |