LETTER to Mr. Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV

To: FIDE President,
His Excellency Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV
office@fide.com
December 27, 2007

Dear Mr. ILYUMZHINOV:

I represent International Grandmaster Gata Kamsky who has requested my assistance regarding his Match Kamsky- Topalov (the Match).
As you are aware the last day for the submission of the official FIDE Sponsorship Bid for the Kamsky-Topalov match is January 31, 2008. Since the 2007 World Chess Cup has ended on December 19, 2007, and due to the Holidays, GM Kamsky has approximately two weeks to find a sponsor for the Match. This is an impossible task especially when GM Topalov had about one year to find his sponsor. Therefore it is respectfully requested that You utilize the powers granted by FIDE to postpone the last day for the FIDE Bid submission by the proposed sponsor till April 30, 2008.

Further, I would like to address the 2008 Grand-Prix series. During 2007 World Chess Cup the official FIDE rule was announced to state in sum that 4 top players from the World Cup will automatically qualify to play in the 2008 Grand-Prix. Accordingly GM Kamsky has earned his right to play in the 2008 Grand-Prix especially when his schedule for 2008 does not have any tournaments that may conflict with the Grand Prix.
It is respectfully requested that you make a formal announcement that GM Kamsky will play in 2008 Grand Prix series as currently scheduled for April, August and December of 2008. And further that FIDE will schedule the World Chess Championship match Kamsky-Topalov so that it does not conflict with the Grand-Prix.
GM Kamsky is very surprised that the upcoming 2008 FIDE Grand Prix rules were suddenly changed after he won the 2007 World Chess Cup and believes that this was done intentionally to cause damage and discriminate his professional chess career.
Please take all measures that within your power and control to correct this situation.
Thank you very much for your attention and consideration. Best Holiday wishes to all.
Sincerely,

Bella Kamskaya, Esq.
General Counsel for Gata Kamsky
Law Offices of Sheldon Martin Krupnick
114 Old Country Road, Suite 544
Mineola, NY 11501

Cc: Bill Hall, USCF Executive Director bhall@uschess.org

USCF Executive Board Members:
Susan Polgar, Chairman susanpolgar@aol.com
Jim Berry, Vice President jaberrycg@aol.com
Randy Bauer, VP Finance randybauer2300@yahoo.com
Paul Troung, VP Marketing & Communications paultroung@aol.com
Joel Channing,VP Business Development joel@channingcorporation.com
Randall Hough, VP Secretary randallhough@yahoo.com
GM Gata Kamsky.

LETTER. Bella Kamskaya, Esq.

Mr. Geoffrey D. BORG December 27, 2007
Villa Babushka, Sir. A. Freemantle Str.,
San Pawl Tat Targa NXR 06, Malta
Res: (356)214 347 29
Cell (356)994 34729
geoffrey.borg@gmail.com; gdb@nextgen.net.mt

Dear Mr. Borg:

This correspondence concerns International Grandmaster Gata Kamsky who has requested my assistance in preparing for the upcoming 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix among other chess competitions. Accordingly on GM Kamsky’s behalf, I would like to address numerous issues that require urgent resolution:
It is my understanding that the player’s commitment to participate in the FIDE Grand Prix series is due by December 31, 2007. Currently there was no official announcement made either by FIDE or the Global Chess BV, the Grand Prix series organizers, regarding 21 top world players that are selected to compete in the Grand Prix. As a result this correspondence is to confirm that Grandmaster Kamsky’s agrees to participate in all four Grand Prix events and that he awaits the official contract and/or the Player’s Undertaking from both FIDE and Global Chess BV.
Further, the selection method for the Grand Prix players, outlined in D.X. regulations for the Grand Prix, is not clear, therefore I would like to emphasize that Grandmaster Kamsky is qualified to participate in 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix based on the following:
1. GM Kamsky is the top rated player in the United States for more than 17 years; and
2. GM Kamsky is Number 17 according to the official FIDE Rating as of October 2007; and
3. GM Kamsky is the Winner of the 2007 World Cup and is one of the 4 top players to compete for the World Chess Championship Title; and
4. Prior FIDE announcements regarding selection of the players to compete in 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix included 4 players who passed to semi-final stage of 2007 World Cup, that includes the winner; and
5. That the rules for Grand Prix were changed at the Singapore FIDE meeting that took place AFTER 2007 World Cup where GM Kamsky became the winner, and also without a public announcement and/or NOTICE to all potential players who are to compete in the Grand Prix; and
6. GM Kamsky has no other tournaments that may conflict with his participation in 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix; and
7. That it is FIDE’s obligation to harmonize the FIDE chess calendar to avoid any conflict between Grand Prix and the World Chess Championship Matches;
Please provide the undersigned with the official response from FIDE and the Global Chess BV regarding the confirmation of GM Kamsky’s participation in 2008-2009 FIDE Grand Prix.
Should you have any questions, please contact the undersigned by e-mail or by tel..
Thank you very much for your attention and consideration. Best Holiday wishes to all.
Sincerely,

Bella Kamskaya, Esq.
General Counsel for Gata Kamsky
Law Offices of Sheldon Martin Krupnick
114 Old Country Road, Suite 544
Mineola, NY 11501
USA

CC: His Excellency Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV, FIDE President office@fide.com
Cc: Bill Hall, USCF Executive Director bhall@uschess.org

USCF Executive Board Members:
Susan Polgar, Chairman susanpolgar@aol.com
Jim Berry, Vice President jaberrycg@aol.com
Randy Bauer, VP Finance randybauer2300@yahoo.com
Paul Troung, VP Marketing & Communications paultroung@aol.com
Joel Channing,VP Business Development joel@channingcorporation.com
Randall Hough, VP Secretary randallhough@yahoo.com
CC: GM Gata Kamsky,

VERY IMPORTANT LETTER. KAMSKY

[Dear and loved Fernando Arrabal... I am sending you my letter... Best wishes for New Year to you and your family. Sincerely, Roustam Kamsky and family.]>>>>

"The ancient game of chess attracts huge public interest. About half a billion people around the globe are either play chess or consider themselves chess fans. Some 100’s thousands professional players worldwide were competing for 128 spots in 2007 World Chess Cup, organized by FIDE. The highest rated American grandmaster Gata Kamsky fought thru to the top of this pyramid, winning all matches in 2007 World Cup that was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. First started in 1998, as a bi-annual World Championships under the Olympic Knock-Out system, it is considered to be the strongest and toughest competition among grandmasters. The winners of these grandiose World Chess Cup competitions in prior years were given the title of the World Champion and they were the following grandmasters:

Anand, India;Khalifman, Russia;Ruslan Ponomarev, Ukraine; Rustem Kacimdzanov, Uzbekistan

However, the winner of 2005 World Chess Cup, GM Levon Aronian, Armenia, did not receive the title of the World Champion because the FIDE has made changes to its official rules.

By the time the American GM Kamsky becomes the winner of 2007 World Chess Cup, the FIDE rules were changed even further, instead of receiving the title of the World Champion, Kamsky has to win two more title matches. First, is the match against the ex-champion, Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria, and then to play against the winner of the match Kramnik- Anand which will be held in October of 2008. These specifics are being said so that readers are aware of what gigantic character and mental strength are needed in order to prepare and succeed to the top on this treacherous road to the title of the World Champion.

All World Champions named earlier and even some prominent grandmasters were taken care of for their sports achievements in their respective countries of origin: Russia, India, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia. The government memorialized their names in stone, donated apartments, paid for the “practice teams”- the whole array of coaches and seconds solicited among the prominent grandmasters, and even for doctors and psychologist. Further these Grandmasters were invited to attend events with the Precedents and were decorated with the Medals of Honor.

Contrary to all these recognition and publicity GM Kamsky had absolutely nothing! There was an absolute silence in press and television, like if Gata did not exist, however there was plenty of negative press about his father, Roustam. This story is quite similar to the life of Bobby Fisher.

People may wonder why Robert Fisher was so detached towards America? Was it because he lacked the assistance and instead he received poisoned press reviews by the authors paid by the KGB and the American Chess Federation. This negative publicity, intrigues and threats surrounding his march with Karpov did destroy his image and most likely cause his emotional disturbance.

The American Chess Federation with its magazine “Chess Life” are part of the most prominent and most funded federation in the world. Over the past years GM Kamsky officially addressed the USCF on numerous occasions but there was no response, no acknowledgement and only an empty silence. Form 1989, Gata Kamsky and his father became the target of the extensive psychological pressure in press. There was no complaints against the chess game that Kamsky played but most of the negative press was about his father who was his coach and the bodyguard.

At the age of 15 Gata made his grandmaster’s norms and at the age of 16 he already became the highest rated chess player in the US and Number 6 in the world. For the past 17 years he is the only American grandmasters who qualified to compete for the title of the World Champion. Also, in 1993 Gata was instrumental when the US team won its first team World Championship with Gata playing on the 1st board. Then in 2006 the American team won a bronze medal, getting ahead of the Russian team.

At the age of 20, Gata could have been the youngest World Champion only if the match against Karpov was an honest and correct competition and if some assistance was offered to Gata by the American Government and the USCF.

Going back in history.

Gata became the USSR chess master when he was 12 years old. Gary Kasparov became master at 15 and Anatoly Karpov at 18. Both Kasparov and Karpov had full support of Michil Botvinik’s chess school and the Russian Government. Historically all grandmasters in the former USSR were obligated to work for the benefit of the chosen ones -- Karpov and Kasparov. They were the only grandmasters allowed to travel abroad. This is incomprehensible to any American because we take for granted the fact that we are free to travel anywhere. Back to pre-Gorbachev era, the “iron gate of KGB” was the way of life in the USSR. Nobody was allowed out of the country without the KGB clearance.

Once Gata becomes the chess master at the age of 12, both Karpov and Kasparov try to prevent him from playing in any chess competitions in order to stop Gata’s advancement in chess. Over the next three years Gata was allowed to play only in 4 tournaments. At which time Kamsky’s family decides to defect to any country of the free world.

In March of 1989 Gata and his father were invited to play in the New York Open tournament with the protégée of the American Grandmaster Lev Alburt and with the assistance of the American Chess Foundation, headed by the executive director honorable Allen Kaufman and James Sherwin, who will be always remembered and appreciated by the Kamsky’s family.

However, from the moment Kamskys defected, all Russian press, radio and television began the nasty, angry and inaccurate publications, campaigning about Kamsky’s “miserable” life in US, all of which was intended to destroy their image and also to create fear and to prevent other sports figures from fleeing Russia. Unfortunately there were plenty of “freelance writers” paid by KGB, Karpov and Kasparov who were reprinting this material in American press. Karpov and Kasparov and/or their associates instantaneously and effectively used government powers and psychological “pressing”.

Why would that happen? The answer to this question will stay in the dorms of the Moscow Sport’s University that has a division of sport’s psychology and sociology. As was later disclosed to Kamsky the Father-Son team was under the “investigation” by the faculty for the purpose of creating a complete psychological, physical, and mental assessment of Kamskys and their weaknesses to be able to influence them during chess competitions. Another aspect of such psychological warfare was to influence-“zombie” the minds of readers by repeating negatives and complete lies about Roustam Kamsky creating negative public image and doubt in the relationship between father and son. This is the ancient principle –to divide and conquer. No other sport figure was subjected to such an immense, long term psychological pressing thru the public press as the Kamsky team. The results were to the satisfaction of the Russian Chess Federation. Clearly a lot was learned from the Fisher’s example; as a matter of fact, Anatoly Karpov did not play the World Championship match against Bobby Fisher but received his title by a forfeiture. The plan for the American grandmaster Kamsky was not to allow him to become a World Champion in a first place.

Nevertheless, in 1993, at the age of 19, GM Kamsky did qualify under two independent cycles (FIDE and PCA) and had a chance to unite both organizations, marking the beginning of the most horrible and difficult times.

In FIDE cycle Gata won against world’s strongest grandmasters: VanDerstern, Holland; Anand, India; and Salov, Russia and qualified to play against the World Champion Anatoly Karpov originally scheduled for March of 1995.

The FIDE match with GM Salov in India was a repetition of psychological pressing against Kamsky. That the second match against Anand under the PCA cycle was lost because it was scheduled in Las Palmas, Spain only 1 week after the conclusion of the FIDE match with Salov in India. Would anybody believe that that was not an intentional overlap in the schedule? (subject to another interview)

In 1995, the Russian FIDE World Champion Karpov evasively evaded his title match with the American GM Kamsky for about a year. At that time Karpov assisted in nominating of a new FIDE president, Mr. Kirsan Illumzinov. Shortly the Kamsky – Karpov match was scheduled in Elista, Kalmikia, Russia, the home town of the new FIDE president who was also the President of Kalmikia. To play the title match against the Russian champion in Russia was a violation of FIDE rules that required a neutral country for such competitions. This match was bluntly unfair, vicious and dishonest towards Kamsky. It was the culmination of the psychological warfare against Gata which totally destroyed him and became the reason for his decision to stop playing chess.

At the beginning of the match all independent journalists were asked to leave Elista. They were taken for “cultural tours” and returned only for the last game of the match.

Gata lost the match to Karpov but not without a fight.

Game #9. Roustam Kamsky discovered a “hidden” room behind the playing hall. That room was occupied by Karpov’s seconds GM Vasukov and IM Gagarin, also there were 4 computers, radio station to gain direct access to Moscow and monitors that were positioned to control all points of egress, the playing hall and the hallways. Positions on chess computers were advanced 10-15 moves in different variations. Roustam Kamsky summonsed the arbiter, Mr. Geis, and instructed him to stop such an advance analysis or totally close the room since the door was open at all times when A. Karpov was passing thru to get to his resting room and was able to hear game analysis by his second. However, neither Mr. Geis no Mr. Arnold Denker, who was appointed by the USCF to monitor the condition of the match and to guide GM Kamsky’s interest, did not take any measures. The official protest by GM Kamsky followed to which the FIDE officials interpose a document that stated that if match is interrupted, a forfeiture will result and all prize will be given to A. Karpov. Since there was no independent international press in Elista till the end of match, there was nobody to complain to.

Like in a nightmare dream newspapers and television in America and worldwide were celebrating victories of Karpov and Kasparov. After these unfair PCA and FIDE matches Gata was close to a nervous break down, just like Bobby Fisher. Upon Gata’s return from Elista he told his story, that was not published anyway, declared his protest and stopped playing chess for about 10 years.

Shortly Gata became a student at the Brooklyn College, graduated and…. decided to become an attorney. In 2004, after Gata received his law degree he….. returned to chess. His return was as a regular player when not many believed that he will be able to come back to the high chess.

However by 2005, just in one year, Gata qualified to compete in the World Championship qualifier matches 2006. Once again he was competing alone and …he lost. Once again he was without any support from the USCF, the governing body of the American Chess was dead silent and did not respond to the numerous requests for assistance which were addressed directly to the USCF president, Mr. Goichberg.

In 2007 after winning against 128 strongest grandmasters in the World Cup, Gata became one of the four top players who will compete for the Title of the World Champion in 2008.

For Gata the match with Topalov will be his 3rd attempt to win the World Championship and he heeds moral and financial support to win.

While many strong grandmasters can qualify to compete for the title of the World Champion, winning the title requires positive publicity, sponsors, financial investment and support of the Chess Federation. The time of lonesome heroes like Capablanka, Euve, Alekhine and Fisher has ended with the arrival of Karpov and Kasparov.

If American people want to see American grandmaster Kamsky as the next World Chess Champion, he would need the support of the Government of the City of New York including Mayer Bloomberg, investment from private sponsors to conduct the matches and the assistance of the USCF. Clearly the match Kamsky –Topalov, that will continue for about 3 weeks, would definitely create a significant amount of air time for the advertising on television and radio and huge publicity in press and the internet worldwide both for the hosting city and for the private sponsors.

Sincerely, Roustam Kamsky, the coach and the father."

Kamsky, genius calumniated and harassed by jealousy and lies

Playwright Fernando Arrabal with four chess pieces and a tower hit by lightning.Photo/Lis

Arrabal: "When I succeeded in collecting half a million dollars for Kamsky" (L'Express, Paris)
Kamsky, genius calumniated and harassed by jealousy and lies

[next: french & spanish]

Gata Kamsky[***] : The best living chess player since Fischer[***]. An “American Tatar” and prodigy born in Siberia. A Mozart[***] persecuted by Salieris with a grave-digger’s manners. A Morphy [***] avatar for the wonderment of sycophants, and for their interdicts out of sheer quarrelsomeness and jealousy. In the final round (World Cup 2007) he beat the fearless Spaniard Alexei Shirov born in Latvia. Hooked by crooks for years, both have been prevented from reaching the top. More than by anyone else the acme, crowning, is deserved by this duet of chessboard geniuses, this pair of saints, lay saints (which is infinitely better): Gata and Shirov[**]. Cheating and pretending, the « assis » have decided that Gata must beat Anand or Kramnik again to receive the Champion title (or even Topalov aided by Danailov). In due course, in the playoffs, Kamsky crushed Kramnik and triumphed over Anand in the latter’s own fief of Sanghi Nagar. With Gata, experience (and the knowledge of its imprecision) is not lacking, he plays with the splendor and exactness of the heavenly bodies.

Gata was born in 1974 with a Tatar name, Gataulla, and Kamsky, his patronym, was the name of the theater company founded by his family of artists and playwrights. [“A life” is the wedding (wow) of events and feelings afforded by human existence. For the inquisitors of chess affairs, to live consists in pretending not to be dead.] Before he was fifteen years old Gata twice won the Soviet Union “junior” championship. In 1989 he chose freedom and escaped to New York. He proved invincible during the 1994 world championship. Anatoli Karpov[*] said about him, “He is capable of dethroning me. He is the most promising talent I have ever known. He easily eliminated his strongest rivals, he would be a merciless opponent for Kasparov.” Not very long ago, at the headquarters of the Tass Agency in Moscow, I tried to remind the neo-dissident of his words. Kasparov, however, had requested from the press conference organizers that they bar me from asking questions, as the “France 2” televised news report clearly shows. In the days of the Gulag and ice picks in the nape of the neck, Kamsky was a deserter and a target of soviet threats, which prevented him from concentrating fully. The “useful idiots of a radiant future” resorted to martingales and brutality to make sure he would not be recognized. So much zeal arising from the sewers of frustration! Given this harassment, this suffocation, Kamsky gave up chess-playing for the university. Until today’s triumphal return. As he becomes king, he will lack neither buffoons nor cymbals.

A Manifesto, in the best acceptation, is a written public statement by which a group of righteous persons condemn an abuse. Thirteen years ago a “whirlwind of defamation and calumnies” was unleashed against Kamsky (and his father too, even in Spain), and it has not fallen away. Together with eight intellectuals, we felt obliged to produce a manifesto to defend him. Milan Kundera [***], among others, signed it. We were demanding “the cessation of all calumnies against the Kamskys so that we might be filled with Gata’s immense talent.” As for me, I had been able to collect 500 000 dollars to help the very young emigrant who was facing hardships in New York. “We feel special tenderness and gratitude for Arrabal who helped us more than once in very difficult times; he is an extraordinary man sent to us by God,” Gata stated. Far, very far from violence, Gata knows how to live in his Carmel.

Altruism is a disposition that drives us to conduct ourselves with generosity and selflessness. After he beat Anand, Kamsky distributed much of his prize to poor families. When I met his father (shortly after I found the half-million dollars for his son), I noticed that he was discreetly slipping money into my hand while giving me a handshake. Because I did not want anyone to notice, I immediately put the money in my pocket. When I got home, I saw we were dealing with 800 dollars. I returned them to him by check. A short time later, however, he took us, my New York artist friends and my family, by limousine, to what we thought was “a place to have a drink.” He had invited us to dine at New York’s best Russian restaurant, with dancers and musicians. Altruism is his parallel, his meridian, and his leonine magnificence.

Jaculatories (ejaculations, from the Latin ‘jaculari’):
“Here jealousy and lies have kept me prisoner.” Brother Luis de Leon[***]
“I am delighted about the joy of the lovers of poetry and chess. Kamsky has proven again that he is the best.” Martin Marcos, poet.
“I am told that a new Watergate is being prepared against the glorious Kamsky.” From the blog of Ivan Humanes.

Other arrabalesque (from a federation member): “I only get along with Kamsky when I am not playing chess with him: his pieces on the chess board make me dizzy.”
_______________________________________________________________________________


Le dramaturge Fernando Arrabal avec quatre pièces et une tour frappée par la foudre. Photo : Lis.



Arrabal: Quand j'ai réuni un demi-million de dollars pour Kamsky(l'Express, Paris)
Kamsky génie calomnié et harcelé par la jalousie et le mensonge.



Gata Kamsky[***] :C'est le meilleur joueur d'échecs vivant depuis Fischer[***]. Surdoué "tatare américain" né en Sibérie. Mozart[***] persécuté par des Salieri avec des façons de fossoyeur. Réincarnation de Morphy[***] pour l'émerveillement et le veto des sycophantes par pures querelle et jalousie. Dimanche dernier il a prouvé , une fois de plus, sa supériorité, en remportant la Coupe du Monde d'Echecs. Au cours de la finale il a battu l'intrépide Espagnol Alexei Shirov né en Lettonie. Pendant des années d'escroqueries de pipeurs, on les a empêchés d'atteindre le sommet. Cime et couronnement que mérite plus que quiconque ce duo de génies de l'échiquier, ce couple de saints laïcs (ce qui est infiniment mieux):Gata et Shirov[**]. Par des tricheries les "assis" ont décidé que s’il veut recevoir le titre de champion Gata devra battre de nouveau Anand ou Kramnik (ou même Topalov assisté de Danailov). En son temps, en quart de finale, Kamsky a écrasé Kramnik et triomphé d'Anand dans son propre fief de Sanghi Nagar. Avec Gata l'expérience (et ses imprécisions) ne manque pas, il joue avec la splendeur et l'exactitude du firmament.

*

Gata est né en 1974 avec un nom tatare, Gataulla, et le patronyme Kamsky, titre de la compagnie de théâtre créée par sa famille d'artistes et de dramaturges.["Une vie" est une noce (very nice) d'événements avec les sentiments de l'existence humaine. Pour les inquisiteurs des échecs vivre consiste à faire comme s'ils n'étaient pas morts]. Il n'avait pas quinze ans quand Gata a remporté deux fois le championnat "junior" de l'Union Soviétique[™]. En 1989 il a choisi la liberté et s'est échappé pour rejoindre New York.Il s’est montré invincible pendant le championnat du monde de 1994. Anatoli Karpov[*] avait dit de lui : « Il est capable de me détrôner. C’est le talent le plus prometteur que j’aie connu. Il a aisément éliminé ses rivaux les plus forts ; il serait un adversaire intraitable pour Kasparov. » ²² Il n'y a pas si longtemps, au siège de l'Agence Tass de Moscou, j'avais tenté de rappeler ces propos au néo-dissident. Mais Kasparov avait exigé des organisateurs de la conférence de presse qu'ils m'interdisent de poser des questions, comme le prouve le reportage filmé de "France 2". Au temps du Goulag ou du pic à glace dans la nuque Kamski était un déserteur en butte aux menaces soviétiques qui l'empêchaient de se concentrer pleinement. Les "idiots utiles de l'avenir radieux" eurent recours à des martingales et à la brutalité pour éviter qu'il pût être reconnu. Que d'ardeur montée des égouts de la frustration! Vu ce harcèlement et cet étouffement Kamsky abandonna les échecs pour l'Université. Jusqu'à son retour triomphal aujourd'hui.Pour devenir roi ni les bouffons ni les cymbales ne lui feront défaut.

*

Le Manifeste, dans sa meilleure acception, est un écrit public grâce auquel un groupe de justes condamne un abus. Il ya treize ans un "ouragan de diffamations et de calomnies" s'était déchaîné contre Kamsky (et son propre père, même en Espagne) , ce qui , malheureusement, n'a pas cessé aujourd'hui. Avec huit intellectuels nous nous étions vu contraints de rédiger un manifeste pour le défendre. Milan Kundera[***] , entre autres, l'avait signé. Nous demandions " de cesser les calomnies contre les Kamsky pour nous permettre d'être comblés par l’immense talent de Gata". Pour ma part j'étais parvenu à réunir avec l'Express 500.000 dollars pour aider le très jeune émigrant qui vivait difficilement à New York. Gata avait déclaré :" Nous éprouvons une tendresse particulière pour Arrabal qui nous a aidés plusieurs fois dans des moments très difficiles; c'est un homme exceptionnel, un envoyé de Dieu pour nous". Loin , très loin des violences, Kamsky sait vivre dans son Carmel.

*

L'altruisme est la disposition qui nous pousse à nous conduire avec générosité et désintéressement. Kamsky, après avoir battu Anand, a distribué une grande partie de son prix aux famillles pauvres. Lorsque j'ai rencontré son père (peu après avoir trouvé le demi-million de dollars pour son fils), j'ai remarqué qu'il me glissait discrètement des billets en me serrant la main. Comme je ne voulais pas que le geste soit remarqué, j'ai mis l'argent dans ma poche sans rien regarder. En arrivant chez moi, j'ai vu qu'il s'agissait de 800 dollars. Je les lui ai retournés par chèque. Mais peu après il nous a conduits, mes amis artistes de New York et ma famille, en limousines , à ce que nous pensions être " un endroit où prendre un verre". C'était le meilleur restaurant russe de New York où il nous a invités à un dîner avec danseuses et musiciens. L'altruisme est son parallèle , son méridien et sa magnificence de lion.


Jaculatoires (éjaculations, du latin ‘jaculari’):

"Ici la jalousie et le mensonge m'ont tenu prisonnier":Fray Luis de Leon[***]

Je me félicite pour la joie des amoureux de la poésie et des échecs. Kamsky a de nouveau prouvé qu'il est le meilleur": Martin Marcos , poète.

"On me dit qu'un nouveau "waters gate" contre le glorieux Kamsky est en préparation". Blog d'Ivan Humanes

Autre arrabalesque (d'un membre de fédération) : "Je ne m'entends avec Kamsky que lorsque je ne joue pas aux échecs avec lui: ses pièces sur l'échiquier me donnent le vertige".

_____________________________________________________________________
Arrabal: Cuando reuní medio millón de dólares para Kamski (L'Express, Paris).

Kamski genio calumniado y acosado por la envidia y mentira.

Gata Kamski[***] Es el mejor jugador vivo de ajedrez desde Fischer[***]. Superdotado ‘tátaro americano’ nacido en Siberia. Mozart[***] perseguido por Salieris con maneras de sepultureros. Reencarnación de Morphy[***] para fascinación de los aficionados y veto de los sicofantes por pura camorra y envidia. El domingo pasado demostró, una vez más, su primacía ganando la Copa del Mundo de Ajedrez. En la final derrotó al intrépido español Alexéi Shírov nacido en Letonia. Durante años de estafas de tahúr, se les impidió alcanzar la cima. Cumbre y coronación que merece más que nadie este dúo de genios del tablero, esta pareja del santos civiles [lo cual es infinitamente mejor]: Gata y Shírov[**]. Con trampantojos los ‘sentados’ han decidido que para darle a Kamski el título de campeón, tendrá que derrotar de nuevo a Anand o a Krámnik (o incluso a Topálov ayudado por Danailov). En su día, en cuartos de final, Kamski aplastó a Krámnik, y venció a Anand en su propia sede india de Sanghi Nagar sobrada de remedios. Con Gata no cuenta la experiencia (y sus imprecisiones), juega con el esplendor y la exactitud del firmamento.

Gata nació en 1974 con un nombre tátaro, Gataulla, y el apellido Kamski, denominación de la compañía de teatro creado por su familia de artistas y dramaturgos. [« Una vida” es una boda (o la veda) de acontecimientos con sentimientos de una existencia humana. Para los inquisidores del ajedrez vivir consiste en hacer como si no estuvieran muertos]. Con menos de quince años Gata ganó dos veces el campeonato ‘junior’ de la Unión Soviética[™] . En 1989 eligió la libertad y se escapó a Nueva York. Invencible durante el campeonato del mundo de 1994, el propio Anatoli Kárpov[*] dijo de él : "Es capaz de destronarme. Es el talento más prometedor que he conocido. Ha eliminado con facilidad a los rivales màs fuertes; sería un oponente intratable para Kaspárov ». No hace mucho, en la sede de la agencia Tass[©] de Moscú, intenté recordarle estas palabras al neo-disidente. Pero Kaspárov exigió de los organizadores de la conferencia de prensa que me prohibieran hacerle preguntas, como quedó plasmado en el reportaje filmado de « France 2 ». En tiempos de gulag o piolet en la nuca Kamski era un desertor sujeto a amenazas soviéticas que le impedían concentrarse plenamente. Los “tontos útiles del porvenir radiante” se valieron de martingalas y brutalidad para evitar que fuera reconocido. ¡Cuánto ardor desde las alcantarillas de la frustración! Dado este acoso y asfixia Kamski abandonó el ajedrez por la Universidad. Hasta su actual retorno triunfal. No le faltarán ni bufones ni platillos para devenir rey.

El Manifiesto en su mejor acepción, es un escrito público gracias al cual un corro de justos condena un desafuero. Hace 13 años se desató contra Kamski (y su propio padre) un “huracán de difamaciones y calumnias » (incluso en la misma España) que desgraciadamente no ha cesado hoy. Con ocho intelectuales nos vimos obligados a redactar un manifiesto en su defensa. Entre otros lo firmó Milan Kundera[***]. Pedimos "el cese de las calumnias contra los Kamski para permitir que Gata nos colmara con su inmenso talento". Por mi parte conseguí reunir 500.000 $ para ayudar al jovencísimo emigrante que vivía difícilmente en NY. Gata comentó: "Sentimos un cariño especial por Arrabal, que nos ha ayudado varias veces en momentos muy difíciles; es un hombre excepcional, un enviado de Dios para nosotros". Lejos, muy lejos de las violencias Kamski sabe vivir en su carmelo.

El Altruismo es la disposición que nos incita a comportarnos de forma generosa y desinteresada. Kamski, tras su victoria sobre Anand, repartió buena parte del premio entre familias pobres. Cuando me encontré con su padre, (poco después de conseguir medio millón de dólares para su hijo), noté que deslizaba discretamente unos billetes al estrechar mi mano. Como no quise que nadie se percatara del gesto metí el dinero en el bolsillo sin mirarlo. Al llegar a casa, vi que eran 800 dólares. Se los devolví con un cheque. Pero poco después, a mis amigos artistas de NY y a mi familia, nos condujo en limusinas a lo que pensábamos sería un «local para echarse un trago ». Era el mejor restaurante ruso de Nueva York donde nos invitó a una cena con músicos y bailarinas. El altruismo es su paralelo, su meridiano y su melena de león.


Jaculatorias (eyaculaciones, del latín ‘jaculari’):

“Aquí la envidia y mentira me tuvieron encerrado”: Fray Luis de León

“Me felicito por la alegría de los amantes de la poesía y del ajedrez; Kamski ha vuelto a demostrar que es el mejor”: poeta Martín Marcos.

« Contra el glorioso Kamski me comentan que están preparando ya un nuevo ‘retrete gate’»: Blog de Ivan Humanes.

Otro arrabalesco (de miembre federativo): “sólo me entiendo con Kamski cuando no juego al ajedrez con él: con sus figuras el tablero me da vértigo”.


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Arrabal playright

Fernando Arrabal is a Spanish playwright, screenwriter, film director, novelist and poet. He was born in 1932 in Melilla,
Spain, but has been living in France since 1955. His father, an army officer, was sentenced to death at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War for being opposed to the right-wing military coup led by Generalissimo Francisco Franco. His sentence was commuted to hard labor for life.

Fernando Arrabal has directed seven full-length feature films, published over one hundred plays, fourteen novels, seven poetry collections, many essays, and his celebrated “Letter to General Franco” during the dictator’s lifetime. His complete plays have been published in a number of languages.

The Dictionary of Literatures in the French Language (Dictionnaire des littératures de langue française) writes: ‘’Arrabal’s theatre is a wild, brutal, cacophonous, and joyously provocative world. It is a dramatic carnival in which the carcass of our “advanced” civilizations is barbecued over the spits of a permanent revolution. He is the artistic heir of Kafka’s lucidity and Jarry’s humor; in his violence, Arrabal is related to Sade and Artaud. Yet he is doubtless the only writer to have pushed derision as far as he did. Deeply political and merrily playful, both revolutionary and bohemian, his work is the syndrome of our century of barbed wire and Gulags, a manner of finding a reprieve.’’

Oil on canvas (116 x 88 cm)
By Fernando San Martín Félez
after a sketch by Fernando Arrabal, completed on October 6, 2006.

Seated: The chess champions Mikhail Tal (1936-1992), José Raúl Capablanca (1888-1942), Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941), Wilhelm Steinitz (1836-1900), and Bobby Fischer (b. 1943). Standing: Boris Spassky (b. 1937), the playwright Arrabal (b.1932), and Alexander Alekhine (1892–1946). On the right-hand side: Paul Morphy (1837-1884), François-André Philidor (1726-1795) and Ruy López de Segura (1530-1580). In photos on the left-hand side: Vasily Smyslov (b. 1921), Machgielis (Max) Euwe (1901–1981), Anatoli Karpov (b. 1951), Judit Polgár (b. 1976), Tigran Petrosian (1929-1984), and Mikhail Botvinnik (1911-1995).
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Hymn to Chess
(For Marcel Duchamp)
By Fernando Arrabal
… With a macadam deity and streetwalker cowpoke. [1]
With my frail chrysalis boasting Mandarin spurs. [2]
With a jubilant Spanish opening that changed the game. [3]
With my man-eating amity dexterous with electroshock. [4]
With my fjord-like coolness and leonine jaws. [5]
With my pawn, pedestal, and Castilian flag. [6]
With the torrent and ivoryless tower of my grip. [7]
With a vengeful cat meowing on my borderline. [8]
With the truth and translucency of our lilies and sheaves. [9]
With the apple of science and the deathless snake. [10]
With the King guillotined by the peons of my soul. [11]
With the Fury and Gorgon of the psyche and psalm. [12]
With the seven long leagues of my birthright and idiom. [13]
With the rocky mountains of my Renaissance risk-taking. [14]
With the gift of the Magi and phantasmagoric horses. [15]
With the conflagration of gambling and my skin, red and gold. [16]
With the monarch trimmed and my seagull in flight. [17]
[1] Steinitz. [2] Hou Yifan (b. 1994) at 12 years old. [3] Ruy López. [4] The young Fischer. [5] Magnus Øen Carlsen (b. 1990). [6] Morphy. [7] Tal. [8] Alekhine. [9] Robert Hübner (b. 1948) and Hölderlin. [10] Almira Skripchenko-Lautier (b. 1976) and Joël Lautier (b. 1973). [11] Philidor. [12] Lasker. [13] Capablanca. [14] Gata Kamsky (b. 1974). [15] Spassky. [16] Alexei Shirov (b. 1972). [17] Judit Polgar.
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Translated by Benjamin Ivry, poet from NY,
Newsweek columnist in the 70s.
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Spanish language version:

Sentados los campeones del mundo (de ajedrez) Tal, Capablanca, Lasker, Steinitz y Fischer.
De pie: Spassky (el dramaturgo Arrabal) y Alekhine.
En el cuadro de la derecha: Morphy, Philidor y Ruy López.
Fotografiados a la izquierda: Smyslov, Euwe, Karpov, Judit Polgar, Petrossian y Botvinnik.
Cuadro al óleo (116 x 88 cm) de SM Félez, croquis de Arrabal.


Himno al ajedrez
(para Marcel Duchamp)
De Fernando Arrabal:
“A mis partidas voy/ de mis partidas vengo…”
Con española de ataque que al tablero transformó. (1)
Con un dios de “macadam” y un cowboy de mi convoy. (2)
Con mi crisálida y toque que lleva espuelas de china. (3)
Con mi armonía de caníbal que sabe de electrochoques. (4)
Con mi frescura de fiordo y mis dientes de león. (5)
Con peón y con peana, y de Castilla el pendón. (6)
Con el torrente y la torre sin marfil desde mi garra. (7)
Con un gato de venganza que en mi frontera maulló. (8)
Con verdad y transparencia de nuestros nardos y espigas. (9)
Con la manzana y la ciencia de serpiente siempreviva. (10)
Con el rey guillotinado por mis vasallos del alma. (11)
Con la Furia y la Gorgona de la psique y la saca. (12)
Con las siete leguas luengas de mi legado y mi lengua. (13)
Con las montañas rocosas de mi risco renaciente. (14)
Con el regalo de magos y las migas de caballo. (15)
Con incendio en el tablero y mi piel de rojo y gualda. (16)
Con el rey descabezado y mi gaviota volando. (17)
“A mis partidas voy/ de mis partidas vengo…”
(1): Ruy López. (2): Steinitz. (3): Yifan Hou (12 años). (4): Fischer joven. (5): Magnus. (6): Morphy. (7): Tal. (8): Alekhine. (9): Hübner y Hölderlin. (10): Almira & Joël. (11): Philidor. (12): Lasker. (13): Capablanca. (14): Kamsky. (15): Spassky. (16): Shirov. (17) Judit Polgar.
www.arrabal.org

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French language version provided by the author

Cette huile sur toile (116 x 88 cm) de SM Félez, croquis de Arrabal, a été achevée le 6 octobre 2006. Assis: les champions d’échecs Tal, Capablanca, Lasker, Steinitz et Fischer. Debout: Spassky (le dramaturge Arrabal) et Alekhine. A droite: Morphy, Philidor et Ruy López. Photograhiés à gauche: Smyslov, Euwe, Karpov, Judit Polgar, Petrossian et Botvinnik

Hymne aux échecs
(Pour Marcel Duchamp)
de Fernando Arrabal
… Avec un dieu du “macadam” et un cowboy de trottoirs(1).
Avec ma frêle chrysalide qui porte éperons de Chine(2).
Avec l’espagnole conquérante qui a transformé le jeu(3).
Avec mon harmonie cannibale experte en électrochocs(4).
Avec ma fraîcheur de fjord et mes dents de lion(5).
Avec pion et piédestal, et mon drapeau de Castille(6).
Avec le torrent et la tour sans ivoire de ma pince(7).
Avec un chat de vengeance qui à ma frontière miaulait(8).
Avec la vérité et la transparence de nos lis et nos épis(9).
Avec la pomme de la science et le serpent immortel(10).
Avec le roi guillotiné par les vassaux de mon âme(11).
Avec la Furie et la Gorgone de la psyché et du psaume(12).
Avec les sept longues lieues de mon legs et de ma langue(13).
Avec les montagnes rocheuses de mes risques Renaissance(14).
Avec le cadeau des mages et les chevaux du mirage(15).
Avec l’incendie du jeu et ma peau rouge et or(16).
Avec le roi étêté et ma mouette en vol(17)…
[(1): Steinitz. (2): Yifan Hou -12 ans-. (3): Ruy López. (4): Fischer jeune. (5): Magnus. (6): Morphy. (7): Tal. (8): Alekhine. (9): Hübner & Hölderlin. (10): Almira & Joël. (11): Philidor. (12): Lasker. (13): Capablanca. (14): Kamsky. (15): Spassky. (16): Shirov. (17): Judit Polgar