Many saw question marks at the International Chess Federation’s handling of the upcoming WC. Still, few are surprised. It is not the first time that a chess championship is without an organizer just months before it starts. – Happens every year Johan-Sebastian Christiansen is a regular feature when the world’s elite play during the WC in blitz and rapid chess. He does not hold back his criticism. UNCERTAIN: Where Johan-Sebastian Christiansen will travel to participate in the WC is still unclear. Photo: CHRISTIAN KRÅKENES / news – It is simply hopeless and amateurish. It’s like this every year and I really don’t understand why. It ruins it for so many players. Don’t waste too much on precautions, but there is an incredible amount of control if it ends up in a country with visa requirements, says Christiansen to news. He is supported by chess colleague Aryan Tari. – As usual, we still don’t know which country will host, which is ridiculous. As players, we are used to it not being announced until a couple of weeks before the tournament. It happens every year and has become a tradition, says Tari, who plans to participate. news’s chess expert, Torstein Bae, also thinks that the International Chess Federation (FIDE) is weak. CULTURE: Bae thinks it could be about culture: – One will come up with this in November, even December. But we have seen before that it works out, he says. Photo: Erik Johansen / NTB – Unfortunately, that’s how it usually is in the chess world. If this were another sport, the circumstances would be completely different. Then one would be worried. – Obviously unable to reach a conclusion until they have the knife at their throats Getting this in place at least six months before, minimum, should be possible, Bae believes. – Why don’t you think they can do it? – That is a good question. It’s not like the organizers are queuing up. I think it has something to do with the fact that the prize money is so high, which again makes it difficult to find a host country. Nevertheless, one can imagine that when one finally manages to find an organizer, one would have managed to land it a little earlier, he says. WC ARENA: Last year Magnus Carlsen won both world championships in Almaty in Kazakhstan. The year before, Warsaw was the WC arena, but there were no Norwegian cheers. Photo: PAVEL MIKHEYEV / Reuters He sees that most of the players draw anyway, and thinks it has to do with the fact that the prize money is so high. – The International Chess Federation does not want it to be late, but they obviously cannot reach a conclusion until they have a knife to their throat, it seems, says Bae. news has tried to get a comment from Fide in this case, but has not received a reply. The big boy Kjell Madland is chairman of Norway Chess, and would like to organize a chess World Cup sometime in the future. – There are requirements when it comes to championships. You must have an organization or a system so you know how to arrange it. There is a lot that needs to be in place, he says. GOOD DIALOGUE: Madland says that they have had good communication with FIDE for several years. Photo: NTB Madland believes the budget can reach something approaching NOK 25 million. – The financing is the big bend. It is a relatively large budget for such an event. There will be an extra 25 per cent just because of the currency, so it is a bit demanding, he says. A good collaboration helps to make the practical things a little easier during a championship. There are some logistics that must be in place. – We need good locations with hotels and gaming venues, and also transport to and from the airport, says the chairman. Johan-Sebastian Christiansen does not know where he is going, but is keeping the month of December open to have everything ready for the WC. Whatever it may be. – Can you participate wherever it is? – It will work out no matter where it is, but there will be an incredible amount of stress if there are visa requirements, as I said. It has been like this in the past and then it barely worked, he says and adds: – It prevents me from traveling abroad in December as well. In that I have to wait and see where it turns out. If I have to have a visa, I have to hand in my passport. So it just creates a lot of unnecessary distraction.
ttn-69
Without a WC organizer at Christmas – chess profiles call it “ridiculous” and “amateur”
