I have mixed feelings of this one, folks. Chessbase.com is quoted of saying that "Topalov will not be accepting or offering draws" during the match next month.

Does this guarentee us an exciting match, or has someone gone over the top again?

I should point out where I got this information from, sorry 'bout that... Check it out on chessbase.com: http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6183

I'd say it was indeed a non-event psychologically for the players. Neither player could claim anything like "I'm going to be a tiger this match" or "No draws" or "I'm out for blood" and expect the other player to make changes or be fearful.

They're both so good and so experienced.

devoid said:

Sounds like some pretty weak pre match psychology too maybe. Anand won't be even remotely intimidated though. Possibly it's just a tactic to drum up a little further interest in the match amongst the chess community.

Either that, or he has a fine sense of humor. If the match needs any hyping, They should bring in Muhammed Ali, or use a medium to get advice from Bobby.

This claim is made by Danailov and refers to the Sofia rule and I quote:"

"The players should not offer draws directly to their opponents. Draw-offers will be allowed only through the Chief-Arbiter in three cases: a triple-repetition of the position, a perpetual check and in theoretically drawn positions."

Sofia rule directly eliminates the possibility for fast (less than 15 moves draws), and seems to bring exciting games for the audience at large.

As long as every win is encouraged by financial incentive, where the players receive parts of the prize fund not according to their final standing, but according to the number of games won it could bring more interesting games.

Statistically I think this approach should bring down the number of draws by reducing the strive for draws with blacks. 

However this approach does not prevent in my opinion a draw in the end game where the action can be most exciting, by repetition of moves etc.

Just an opinion.

Or it could be that... Topalov is going after the title in a very aggressive way. Although I was taken back a bit, I wasn't too suprised since it came from Topalov himself. In my opinion, I don't think anyone else would come up with something like that. Topalov isn't my favorite sport of all time, but he might be onto something good here.