Kramnik - Elista - and the "toilet"

In a thread about Topalov and why he is disliked, there's a reference to Kramnik's bathroom visits in Elista.

People should get this straight - it was a scheme by Topalov's manager Danailov, who in desperation concocted the accusation in order to bring Kramnik out of balance.

First - the basics of the accusation. Kramnik and Topalov had separate rest rooms - BUT, these rest rooms were switched according to which color they played.Which means that Kramnik would have had to rig two separate toilets in order to cheat according to Danailov's accusation. And Kramnik would also run the risk of Topalov or Danailov noticing the "cables", etc., as the players had another color.

Very unlikely.

The rest rooms had en suite toilets. A video camera recorded what went on in the rest room, but didn't see what happened in the toilet.
Kramnik would go to his rest room after a move, and would then pace back and forth between the rest room and the toilet.

Here's the excerpt from Danailov's press release describing suspicious behavior:

15.54 – Kramnik plays move 15
15.55 – Goes into the bathroom
15.56 – Goes out of the bathroom
15.57 – Goes into the bathroom
15.59 – Goes out of the bathroom
16.03 – Goes into the bathroom
16.04 – Goes out the bathroom
16.07 – Comes out for move 16

Note that Danailov doesn't write "goes into the bathroom" and then "comes back into the restroom." That would have made the fact that Kramnik was pacing too obvious - so he uses the word bathroom to describe all the "actions."

Now look at the times. Kramnik spends time in the rest room, paces into and out of the bathroom, then he spends time in the rest room, etc.

Danailov, in a panic because his player was dropping games at the start, came up with Toiletgate - a completely unsubstantiated and totally preposterous charge.

Now - according to Danailov, Kramnik managed to check a computer, connected to the cables, during the short time he was in the toilet. But the toilets were inspected, so the rig had to be hidden.

Look at those times again. Simply no time for what's been charged, and quite ridiculous.

Here's a video with Anand/Kasparov. Kasparov going out to and coming back from the rest room all the time, for just about every move.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FutTQZfFDuI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sIWvoMRg6E

And Kramnik was in his restroom when his opponent was thinking, not on his own time. Which means that whatever he was using a computer for might have been made irrelevant by the move Topalov made as he came out to make his own.

Here's Danailov's original press release.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3370

In the Topalov thread, there are several descriptions of Kramnik's behavior that can at best be called misunderstandings, at worst a deliberate rearranging of the truth.

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/why-is-topalov-look-down-upon-so-much

Oh, no, yet another person pretending to know everything...

But dear LOGIC darling can help us substantiate evidences and facts to go for reasonable conclusions.

It should also be noted that there's a 2D demonstration board in his restroom, so actually he wasn't wasting his time when it was topalov's move.

I think anyone who believes and supports these accusations against Kramnik has lost connection wih any kind of objectivity. It's so blatantly obvious for the rest of the chess community.

And I was about to wonder why they so insist matches with Kamsky and Anand be held in motherland Bulgaria? tip nak tip nak roll up the sleeves Danny.

Really? How's that possible? Isn't using a chessboard to analyze your options during a game against the rules?

I thought it was more that Topalov's life was threatened because the match was in Russia, Kramnik's home, right?  

Anyway, all world championship matches should be in neutral territory relative to the combatants, Switzerland, Canada, or Iran for instance would have been better choices, although I see that Kasparov played Short in England and I think Kasparov also played Anand in India, didn't he?  And then Kramnik-Topalov.

I think annual championships with playoffs is the best solution, in neutral territories is best...it works for other forms of interntaional competition.    

These relics of chess history (having to raise money to challenge for the world title, competitors qualifying years in advance for a title shot when they are hardly relevant anymore) need to be abandoned in favor of fair and balanced legitimate competition.  You need a consistent set-up and location where such accusations of cheating/unfairness/etc will be kept to minimum (and where such possibilities are harder to come by). 

Because nobody else gave a bid for the events? Why didn't the Philippines gave a bid?

yes, indeed there was 2D boards inside the restrooms.  They allowed it except any computer assistance.  But as far as I know, Kramnik did not even use them.

they're just for viewing, not analyzing.

Ahh, OK. GMs need to review their positions even when they visit the restroom.

Another thing I'd like to add is that Kramnik visted the rest room a lot when playing against Anand too. It's not like he has an unhealthy excretory system, he might want to walk around, or get away from the stage, find some peace of mind, whatever.

The boards in the restrooms in Elista showed the actual position of play, but was not used by either player for analysis. Which is why they had the video camera covering what happened in the rest rooms.

Those specific charges against Kramnik were ridiculous.

But now we have a nice match going on, let's enjoy that. There were just so many hearsay pieces of nonsense in the Topalov thread that it seemed in order to show to some specifics.

Actually, from what I read, Kramnik does seem to have some medical condition...but it is not specified. I am sure FIDE is aware of this...and relevant confirmation provided.

omg

i'm like new to this...can someone help me? pleasseeee!!! :}

What is it with the deranged?

in my opinion the action performed by kramnik is indeed very suspicious.

He could have had some kind of chess computer hidden in his clothes, and after an opponents move he might have gone to the toilet to put that move into his computer to later come back and see the results.

The accumulator should have no problem lasting the entire match, so no energy source would be needed.

I dont think its a sheme by Danailov, losing to a (possible) cheater is the worst thing imaginable imo, and pointing out reasons for suspision is nothing that leads me to dislike someone. (but there are of course other reasons not to like topalov)

I know, strange isn't it?