News from FIDE

Three months ago, when I last looked at preparation for the forthcoming World Cup (see Qualifiers for Khanty-Mansiysk 2007, 2007-07-19), the regulations were in the process of being updated on Fide.com (FIDE Handbook, Regulations for the World Chess Championship Cycle 2007 - 2009: 1. Organisation; 2. Qualifying Events for World Cup 2007; 3. World Cup 2007; and 4. World Championship Matches 2008-2009). It's time for a new look.

First, following is an overview of relevant FIDE documents (all Fide.com) published since June, along with a few comments.

• 2007-06-08: FIDE and Global Chess agreed on key points
  
• 2007-06-24: Tallinn Presidential Board Maps New World Chess Championship Cycle
  
• 2007-07-19: Regulations for the 2007-2009 World Chess Championship Cycle published
  
• 2007-08-08: FIDE Vice President and CEO of Global Chess BV Geoffrey Borg's interview
  
• 2007-08-20: Global Chess BV office opened in Amsterdam
  
• 2007-09-19: Presidential Board meeting in Mexico City
  
• 2007-10-08: Updated List of Qualifiers for the WORLD CUP 2007 • The date on this document changes from time to time.
  
• 2007-10-16: FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Congratulates New World Champion Anand

One of the big changes for the new World Championship cycle is the introduction of the Grand Prix. In future cycles, the winner of the World Cup will meet the winner of the Grand Prix to determine the next title challenger. The June report on the Tallinn Presidential Board (PB) said, 'FIDE and Global Chess will draft detailed regulations for the Grand Prix starting in 2008 for the next Presidential Board in Mexico City.' In the September report of the Mexico City PB, there was no mention of a Grand Prix. This is perhaps because FIDE President Ilyumzhinov was absent from the meeting.

Other relevant issues:

• The ACP has made a formal complaint about the number of World Cup qualifying places for European players. • 2007-09-10: Irregularities in nominations for the World Cup 2007 • [Chess-players.org]
  
  
• In my last post I wondered about the status of three players. • 2007-10-11: Continental Championships and Zonals (2007-Q3) • Q: Have Leko, Morozevich, and Gelfand declined to play, or is there some other arrangement? A: The World Cup Regulations specify that '128 qualifiers (in order of priority): World Champion + seven (7) finalists from the World Championship Tournament 2007 in Mexico...'. It appears that the three players are indeed out of the next cycle.

Also worth noting is that the official site for the World Cup is now operational: Chess in Khanty-Mansiysk • I'll incorporate all of this into my own pages -- Zonals and 2007 World Cup -- on the World Chess Championship.