Sofia match was toughest challenge for Anand

RG: Will you rate your rivalry with Topalov as the most intense of your career so far - given the frenzy and the hype around the match?

Anand: That would be a difficult question to answer but yes the Sofia contest was the toughest match I've ever played. In my earlier contests, things did not last that long but Topalov is a fighter and a great player and he makes chess interesting. He is the kind of player who forces you to take risks and forces you to respond and as a competitor, I could have never lost focus against him.

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Robert von Weizsäcker ticket for ECU

The German Chess Federation is pleased to announce that its President Robert K. von Weizsäcker will run for ECU President. He has been asked by a lot of federations and players to form a ticket representing all parts of Europe.

President: Prof. Dr. Robert von Weizsäcker (CC-GM), Germany
Deputy President: Nigel Short (GM), England
Vice President: Ivan Sokolov (GM), Bosnia and Herzegovina
Secretary General: Johann Hjartarson (GM), Iceland
Treasurer: Dr. Yuri Kaplun, Ukraine

Silvio Danailov's ECU Presidential Ticket

Silvio Danailov has announced his ticket for the elections in a press release via his campaign website.

President – Mr. Silvio Danailov (Bulgaria)
Deputy President – Mr. Tomasz Sielicki (Poland)
Vice President – Mr. Ion-Serban Dobronauteanu (Romania)
Secretary General – Mrs. Sava Stoisavljevic (Serbia)
Treasurer – Mr. Almog Burstein (Israel)

Alisa Maric on Karpov's ticket as candidate for Vice-President

Serbian IM Alisa Maric, once finalist in Candidate matches for Women's World Championship, will be on Anatoly Karpov's ticket for FIDE elections as candidate for FIDE Vice-President, Blic.rs reported. Consequently, the Executive Board of the Serbian Chess Federation supported Karpov's nomination.

Alisa Maric holds titles of women's grandmaster (WGM) and men's international master (IM) in chess and PhD in Economics. The remarkable achievements in chess made her best Serbian and best American-born female chess player ever. She is also university professor in Marketing, member of Presidential Board of Serbian Olympic Committee and winner of prestigious national awards.

Alisa Maric about drug testing in chess

Alisa Maric: Chess can be interesting for TV audience

The second VP candidate will be Viktor Kapustin

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Ticket

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Ticket

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has announced his FIDE Presidential ticket for the coming elections during the Chess Olympiad in Khanty Mansiysk. It includes Georgios Makropoulos as Deputy President, Ignatius Leong as General Secretary, Nigel Freeman as Treasurer, Beatriz Marinello and Lewis Ncube as Vice Presidents.

Campaign website

Viktor Kapustin candidate for FIDE Vice-President post

Viktor Kapustin, Chairman of the Ukreksimbank and President of the Ukrainian chess federation, is candidate for the post of FIDE Vice-President in Anatoly Karpov's ticket.

He feels that for years Ukraine was underrepresented in highest FIDE bodies and is ready to support Karpov's bid.

Interview in Russian

Ilyumzhinov sues Karpov for defamation

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of FIDE, has sued Anatoly Karpov for defamation, reports Gazeta.ru.

The lawsuits were filed with Moscow and international courts, Ilyumzhinov said in an interview with Gazeta on Thursday. He did not specify the courts, but cited Karpov’s allegations of corruption in FIDE, for which the 12th World champion has not provided any evidence.

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Anatoly Karpov interviewed at Poikovsky opening

On the opening day of the Poikovsky chess tournament, Evgeny Surov conducted an interview with Anatoly Karpov, candidate for FIDE Presidency. Full text in Russian is here.

Some important remarks by Karpov:
- The team is not ready, he will reveal only that American lawyer Richard Cohen is candidate for FIDE Deputy President. Kapustin, President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation, is also mentioned.
- The solution for better financial position of the "average" Grandmasters and International Masters will be inclusion into chess education and chess promotional activities.
- Did not want to reveal the potential sponsors, even though this is repeatedly highlighted as very important part of his program.
- Will not change the World Championship system, criticized earlier knockout championships but is in favour of keeping the World Cup. Candidate matches are too short with six games and should be extended.
- On the question about the "destructive connection" with Kasparov, he answered something totally unrelated.
- Criticized Arkady Dvorkovich
- Did not want to say which of his people "are under pressure"
- Did not want to say what will be his first three actions if he is elected FIDE President, - "You will see in my program which will be announced". - Then added: improving the image of FIDE, establishing cooperation with UNESCO and UNICEF, development of youth chess.