Anand lambastes World championship rules

Oct 05: FIDE formulated these rules to win some votes during their election

A major success mostly follows with some controversy, as it happened in the case of newly-crowned World champion India’s Viswanathan Anand too, since the World body of chess (FIDE) laid down new World championship rules, which will require him to play previous champion Vladimir Kramnik in a few months time to retain the coveted title.

World No. 1 Anand, who won the title last week in Mexico, made mockery of the rules by commenting that FIDE formulated these complex rules to get some votes during their election, which was held in 2006 and hoped that such a chain would not be repeated in coming years.

“These are ridiculous rules. It was decided by FIDE during their elections last year in order to win a few votes. I hope it is not repeated in future” Anand said.

Under the said Fide rules, Anand will have to play Kramnik, the previous champion who finished second in the world championships, in a match-play format next year.

The ultimate victor between the two will then play to the winner of the match between former champion Veselin Topalov and the conqueror of World Cup, slated to be held in Russia later this year.

The 37-year-old Indian GM Anand, who is expected to come back home later this month, was at the moment enjoying the honour being showered on him in Spain after winning the World championship.

“It was really a nice reception in Spain. The mayor also called me up to congratulate,” he said.

Anand will now heads to Turkey to play some of the club matches. He was still enjoying the euphoria of being the champion and not thinking about the match against Kramnik.

“I am still living the feeling. I will play a few club matches in Turkey now. I have not given a single thought to the match against Kramnik. It is just a commitment,” he added.