FIDE Election back on: Newman surges in polls

Tromso, Norway, August 10 -- Sources report that an out-of-court settlement was reached early this evening between FIDE and apd's Grand Prix Circuit (GPC), allowing FIDE's presidential election to go forward as planned. 

GPC agreed to stop its court action seeking an injunction against the election, which would have stopped it altogether.  In turn, FIDE, and candidates Ilumzhinov and Kasparov have agreed to the inclusion of Alfred E. Newman on the ballot.

Pandemonium broke out in the Olympiad playing hall at news of Newman's candidacy.  Cheers erupted as the news was passed from match to match, table to table.  "This could be the start of big things in chess," enthused World Champion Magnus Carlsen.  Virtually speechless with joy, Women's World Champ Hou Yifan kept repeating, "What, me worry?  What, me worry?"