It's Official - It's Chennai

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Confirms Chennai

On the FIDE website appears a signed contract which says:

Federation International Des Echecs

Memorandum of Understanding

Which was signed in Chennai, India on April 19th, 2013 between the World Chess Federation (FIDE)
And the Indian Chess Federation (AICF) and Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, hereby described as the Organizer, in respect of the 2013 FIDE World Championship Match:

1. The organizer will be responsible for holding the match in Chennai, India on the dates 06/11/2013 – 26/11/2013 and according letter No. -529/s2/2013 dated 09/04/2013.

2. The match will be organized according the Rules and Regulation For the FIDE World Championship Match (FWCF) 2013 which can be found in FIDE website.

3. FIDE will send a draft contract and the parties will sign the contract within 7 days from the day the draft is received by AICF.

4. The organizer’s direct financial obligations, above his other obligations are:

$ 2,550,000 According Article 13 and AICF relevant letter to FIDE
$ 510,000 According Article 13.2
$ 255,000 According Article 14.1 and 14.2
$ 42,250 According Article 14.5 (Converted to USD)
$ 10,000 According Article 15.2.1 + 15.4 (Estimated)

$3,367,250 USD

4.1 – 50% of the above amount will be transferred to FIDE account, as appears in the Regulation by May 20th 2013

4.2 – 50% of the above amount will be transferred to FIDE account as appears in Regulations by August 31st 2013.

FIDE Representative, Vice President and WCC Member Israel Gelfer

AICF Honorary Secretary Bharat Singh

Tamil Nadu State Chess Assocation General Secretary V. Hariharan



http://www.fide.com/component/conten...tch-2013-.html

[Wayne Komer]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

Perhaps I have jumped the gun on this. I have no training in contract law and we are dealing with FIDE here:

From Chessvibes:

It could also mean that FIDE is keeping its options open. In general a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expresses a convergence of will between two parties, indicating an intended common line of action. A MoU is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in situations where the parties cannot create a legally enforceable agreement.

It's well possible that the match will eventually be held somewhere else. At the moment all parties involved have reasons to be not too happy about Chennai: Anand because there might be too much home crowd pressure, Carlsen because the different climate might involve risks, AGON because a different city might be more interesting for sponsors and FIDE because a higher bid also means a higher income for them.

http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/fi...g-with-chennai

[Hal Bond]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

I am surprised that the prize fund is not higher. This is the match everyone has been anticipating.

[Jean Hébert]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

As usual FIDE has set things up for trouble. Carlsen should object to play on Anand's home turf. This has always be at least an unwritten rule. The WC match should be played on neutral ground unless no other option is available. I doubt very much that it is the case here. Carlsen will most certainly fight this.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

Did someone offer more prize money?

[Kevin Pacey]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

For info about the city of Chennai:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai

It's noted that the city has a tropical climate. November's typical temperatures aren't bad at all, though it is the month with the heaviest rainfall typically - ideal chess playing weather, perhaps (unless one's brain is prone to be affected adversely by it). :)

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

Interestingly - the region is also noted for protest marches, hunger strikes, and deaths in the 1960's when India tried to impose a one-language (Hindi) policy across the country (even the use of English for official purposes was to end in 1965) - which this mainly Tamil-speaking (90%) region disagreed with (although most practice the Hindu religion). India eventually backed down - giving Hindi and English more or less "official" status (as they are today). MP's - in Parliament - may speak in Hindi or English (or in their mother tongue with the permission of the Speaker).

[Zeljko Kitich]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

For info about the city of Chennai:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai

It's noted that the city has a tropical climate. November's typical temperatures aren't bad at all, though it is the month with the heaviest rainfall typically - ideal chess playing weather, perhaps (unless one's brain is prone to be affected adversely by it). :)

I'm thinking Norway in November has weather that is not much better, but then again I've never been to Norway. I did hear from a Norwegian in Greece that most Norwegians come south to Europe instead of going north in Norway for vacation. Kind of like Canadians who go south as well to Cuba and Florida.

[Zeljko Kitich]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

Interestingly - the region is also noted for protest marches, hunger strikes, and deaths in the 1960's when India tried to impose a one-language (Hindi) policy across the country (even the use of English for official purposes was to end in 1965) - which this mainly Tamil-speaking (90%) region disagreed with (although most practice the Hindu religion). India eventually backed down - giving Hindi and English more or less "official" status (as they are today). MP's - in Parliament - may speak in Hindi or English (or in their mother tongue with the permission of the Speaker).

India has somewhere around 20 official languages (22 rings a bell). When they introduced the Canadian students on my exchange term in France, they mentioned that Canada has English and French as official languages; all very good. Then they introduced the Indian students and mentioned how many official languages they have and blew us out of the water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langua...tatus_in_India

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

I guess it's how you define "official". In Canada, you can (allegedly) get served in either official language by any Federal regulated agency (e.g. post office, Via Rail). In India, I wouldn't expect to be served in Punjabi in a Chennai post office (probably not in Hindi either, but possibly in English).

South Africa has 11 "official" languages, along with 8 other "recognized" languages.

[Mathieu Cloutier]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

I'm thinking Norway in November has weather that is not much better, but then again I've never been to Norway. I did hear from a Norwegian in Greece that most Norwegians come south to Europe instead of going north in Norway for vacation. Kind of like Canadians who go south as well to Cuba and Florida.

Norway in November is simply impossible. That's when they get 1-2 hours of sunlight a day.

I've experienced it before and you're just sleepy all day long.

Having the match in Chennai is also sub-optimal, of course, but much less worse than Norway, given the time of the year.

Anyway, is playing 'home' such an advantage in chess? Especially if the conditions are satisfactory for the 'visitor' (food, venue etc.). After all, you just want to be in a quiet environment, which may be impossible if you're playing 'home' with all the media attention.

The 'visitor' just has to arrive at least 1 week in advance to shake off jet lag.

[Zeljko Kitich]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

An Indian friend of mine that I studied in Europe with is from Chennai (formerly Madras - of the famous type of textile). He says the weather won't be so bad (around 25 Celsius) but that likely Carlsen won't enjoy it. On the other hand since Anand is from Chennai that there will more pressure on him there. Also the main interest in chess in India is in Chennai, not so much elsewhere.

[Zeljko Kitich]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

I guess it's how you define "official". In Canada, you can (allegedly) get served in either official language by any Federal regulated agency (e.g. post office, Via Rail). In India, I wouldn't expect to be served in Punjabi in a Chennai post office (probably not in Hindi either, but possibly in English).

South Africa has 11 "official" languages, along with 8 other "recognized" languages.

Many Indians speak 2 or 3 languages including English fluently. How exactly official plays out I'm not sure. I suspect you might have a right to have a trial conducted in your language choice, to get government documents in your language choice and to have government legislation published in all of the official languages and to be taught in your language choice at the secondary and elementary levels. The same as in Canada x that many more official languages.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

Norway has an oil bonanza. Lots of petrol dollars. Nothing to stop them from making a large bid for the championship but they probably didn't.

[Jean Hébert]

Re: It's Official - It's Chennai

As usual FIDE has set things up for trouble. Carlsen should object to play on Anand's home turf. This has always be at least an unwritten rule. The WC match should be played on neutral ground unless no other option is available. I doubt very much that it is the case here. Carlsen will most certainly fight this.

Today on Chessbase.com :
The President of the Norwegian Chess Federation, Jøran Aulin-Jansson, has sent a vigorous protest to World Chess Federation on the selection of Chennai as the host of the 2013 World Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen...

Will there be a Anand-Carlsen match ? Not 100% sure, considering FIDE's "skill" in shooting itself in the foot...