Karpov, Fide settle case

JAN 11: The World Chess Federation (Fide) and former world champion Anatoly Karpov have dropped the court case relating to the world chess championship and its conduct.

At the instance of the Court of Arbitration for sport at its hearing of the case of Karpov vs. Fide, on Tuesday (January 9), an agreement was reached by both parties to withdraw their respective claims. The terms which formed the basis of the arbitration award by the three-man arbitration panel were as follows: “In the interest of chess, the parties unreservedly agree to withdraw all claims and counterclaims made in this arbitration with prejudice. Both parties acknowledge the effectiveness of the decision of Fide to change the World championship cycle from a two-year to a single year. Anatoly Karpov has no objection, and undertakes not to object, to FIDE’s conferring of its World Championship title to Alexander Khalifman in 1999 and Viswanathan Anand in 2000. Both Fide and its officials and Anatoly Karpov undertake to cease all forms of criticism against each other through any medium, including but not limited to print and electronic media, in respect of any of the allegations or claims made in thisarbitration. In the interest of goodwill and in order to correct the misunderstanding arising out of the agreement which led to this dispute, Fide shall make a single payment to Anatoly Karpov of $ 50, 000 within 14 days of the date of this consent award. Each party shall bear its own expenses, and will share equally the costs of CAS.”

It may be recalled that Karpov, after winning the World title in Lausanne, did not take part in the 1999 World championship in Las Vegas and in New Delhi in 2000 as he had contended that the one-year cycle was against his interests.