This is my first post on chess talk in over five years and I've rarely visited the site to read the threads.
I am, to my knowledge, the only authorized spokesperson on behalf of the Kasparov campaign in Canada.
In spite of several attempts to speak with Vlad about the campaign I have yet to have an opportunity to do so. Vlad was quoted in the Globe and Mail as saying that nobody from the Kasparov campaign had even e-mailed him which was incorrect. Once it was pointed out to Vlad that I had done so on several occasions he responded by saying he wasn't sure whether it arrived in his chess.ca address, which as President is his published address. In defence of not communicating with me Vlad also said that were I really the spokesperson Hal would have told him so if Hal knew it. If Hal didn't tell him that fact it wasn't because Hal didn't know it. Hal knows well that I was the spokesperson for the Karpov campaign last time and as Hal and I discussed, I was the spokesperson for the Kasparov campaign this time. That Vlad didn't know it is an error in his responsibility as President (albeit not overly serious), and a sign of poor communication from Hal to him.
In response to the above points, Vlad cited, among other reasons for us not yet to have spoken that he was too busy. Upon return to this site after years absence I notice he wasn't to busy to be constantly reading threads and posting here.
We now have an inflammatory situation where many well intentioned and long time supporters of Canadian chess are fighting with one another. Camp Kasparov's contention is that the CFC never even listened to them...which is completely correct. In the meantime the FIDE position has been well articulated by Hal and has influenced the executive without Kasparov's case ever being officially heard. This doesn't seem fair.
Arguments on this site have degenerated into colossal insults by both parties which have been completely non-productive. If I were Vlad I'd be upset at some of the swings taken at him. If I were Sid I'd be infuriated by the fact that as the biggest sponsor of chess in Canadian history the CFC's position is that he doesn't have an official voice in the Kasparov campaign, which, while technically correct, is ludicrous.
There's just a little too much ego occurring on both sides.
I propose the following solution.
I would like to debate Vlad, in open, on this board, where everyone can see what's being said about who the CFC should vote for. I consider it a moderate and reasonable request and think that what transpires will allow the both sides to give their views in a civilized way.
Regards,
Robert Hamilton
I am, to my knowledge, the only authorized spokesperson on behalf of the Kasparov campaign in Canada.
In spite of several attempts to speak with Vlad about the campaign I have yet to have an opportunity to do so. Vlad was quoted in the Globe and Mail as saying that nobody from the Kasparov campaign had even e-mailed him which was incorrect. Once it was pointed out to Vlad that I had done so on several occasions he responded by saying he wasn't sure whether it arrived in his chess.ca address, which as President is his published address. In defence of not communicating with me Vlad also said that were I really the spokesperson Hal would have told him so if Hal knew it. If Hal didn't tell him that fact it wasn't because Hal didn't know it. Hal knows well that I was the spokesperson for the Karpov campaign last time and as Hal and I discussed, I was the spokesperson for the Kasparov campaign this time. That Vlad didn't know it is an error in his responsibility as President (albeit not overly serious), and a sign of poor communication from Hal to him.
In response to the above points, Vlad cited, among other reasons for us not yet to have spoken that he was too busy. Upon return to this site after years absence I notice he wasn't to busy to be constantly reading threads and posting here.
We now have an inflammatory situation where many well intentioned and long time supporters of Canadian chess are fighting with one another. Camp Kasparov's contention is that the CFC never even listened to them...which is completely correct. In the meantime the FIDE position has been well articulated by Hal and has influenced the executive without Kasparov's case ever being officially heard. This doesn't seem fair.
Arguments on this site have degenerated into colossal insults by both parties which have been completely non-productive. If I were Vlad I'd be upset at some of the swings taken at him. If I were Sid I'd be infuriated by the fact that as the biggest sponsor of chess in Canadian history the CFC's position is that he doesn't have an official voice in the Kasparov campaign, which, while technically correct, is ludicrous.
There's just a little too much ego occurring on both sides.
I propose the following solution.
I would like to debate Vlad, in open, on this board, where everyone can see what's being said about who the CFC should vote for. I consider it a moderate and reasonable request and think that what transpires will allow the both sides to give their views in a civilized way.
Regards,
Robert Hamilton
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