On 30th March FIDE released April 2007 rating list. The list
had not
considered the Linares/Morelia tournament results so Veselin Topalov was on
top. Linares chess tournament finished on March 10, FIDE normally considers the
prestigious Linares event before releasing the April rating list. Anand was
expected to top the April FIDE rating list for the first time as Topalov lost
lot of rating points from Linares event while Anand gained few points from this
event. Strong protests from All India Chess Federation (AICF) and widespread
criticism forced FIDE to correct and republish the rating list. Anand is crowned
the world's number one player in the corrected list.
Linares ended on March 10 several times in the
last few years and it has always been considered in the the April rating list.
AICF asked FIDE to rate this event as they are considering this event since past
many years. AICF treasurer Bharat Singh Chauhan said," Asian Cities Chess
Championship in Tehran, which was held from March 1 to 9, was also included in
the tournaments used to calculate the April 2007 list. There were also some
other events which spilled into March but were used in the calculations. This
shows their (FIDE's) double standard". FIDE Presidential Board member Nigel
Freeman defended the original list, saying "it was completely fair. Before the
conspiracy theories get out of hand, perhaps I can explain what happened to the
best of my knowledge".
'To become world
number one and officially see it on paper is satisfying.' - Anand
Viswanathan Anand said," The International Chess
Federation's (FIDE) initial refusal to elevate him to number one ranking in its
latest charts as inexplicable and strange. Linares has always made it to the
April lists. It is one of the most important events in the chess calendar. Not
to rate it is very strange. If we have ratings every three months, this is to
make the ratings more relevant. As to why FIDE didn't rate the event I do not
have an explanation. But now that it has been rated I do not wish to dwell on it
any longer."
"I saw the hundreds of emails and messages in the forums. It was very special
that everyone stood up for me. I can't thank the fans enough. It was truly
special. To become world number one and officially see it on paper is
satisfying. I just want to say a big thank you."
'Bulgarian Chess
Federation not happy with the change in the rating list'
Stefan Sergiev, the director of the Bulgarian
Chess Federation, sent a message to FIDE with a strong protest for various
reasons like, inadequate decisions of FIDE to turn down a $2 million match
offer, to change the cycle of the world championship and to move the candidate
matches to an earlier date have been clearly directed against Veselin Topalov
and against chess itself. Also the decision to change the April rank list due to
external pressure.
They have published the letter on
Topalov's website.
Related:
--
Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand would be number one for the
first time in FIDE's April rating list!
Reference:
--
FIDE April list
