...In any case, I didn't decline hosting the match, FIDE declined me, because I'm not on the "approved bidders list" and I also couldn't personally guarantee the cash purse for the winner and loser."
According to the FIDE website, they received no bids by the April 30, 2014 deadline. I guess that yours didn't count.
If there had not been that much problem with recent WC and WC cycle organisation, there might be more sponsor wanting to pay.
Maybe chess.com could host the event. If the site chipped in a million, twenty thousand members stomped up 50 euros apiece that's a second million, the advertisers here might contribute, Norwegian TV would be good for quite a bit and there must be money available in India to support Annand.
Chess does seem to be going the way of football; more and more moneyspinning events. I too used to like the four year cycle with zonal, interzonal and candidates events in the intervening years. It was said to favour the incumbent but I am not sure that is right and even less sure that, if true, it outweighs the advantages of the format. There was a steady increase in excitement as the various stages unfolded and the match itself had an enormous sense of occasion about it.
I was a half point below winning 40 euro in a tournament. I think the startfee i payed was ca 30 euro.
Chess might get some money if it becomes more of a Tv-sport. Not only collecting money from the startfee.
If I were he, I would defend the damned thing every MONTH if somebody'd put up the prize money.
He can't just do whatever he wants though, it's FIDE that decides the rules and arranges qualification cycles etc.
We could go back to pre-1948 when the world champion was anointed by his peers, and played the challenger of his choosing.
Played anyone who could come up with the purse.
The only information that I could find stated that they were obligated to play the strongest challengers from time to time for the title.
You know how the press often gets details wrong, especially on obscure topics like this, but I wonder if the "Miami" reference in the article concerns the bid proposal I mailed into FIDE (mostly as a joke) the week after Anand won the candidates match.
In any case, I didn't decline hosting the match, FIDE declined me, because I'm not on the "approved bidders list" and I also couldn't personally guarantee the cash purse for the winner and loser.
Didn't know this, comic tragedy really. These guys just played last fall, maybe lower the prize fund, or give the challenger pawn odds.
I say diversify. Don't do just chess...that's too twentieth century. One day, play some 4 Gewinnt! Another day the two can engage in a staring contest. Twister as well.
Armwrestling?
The whole thing is a farce anyhow. Who cares.
Blindfold...now that would be fun.
Government funding for these matches would be nice. Anyone else agree? The private sector is obviously not coming through.
The government often funds arts and culture, so why not chess?
Soviet type government chess funding... :)
Yep. Bump up the marginal income tax rate and let's do this.
USA baby
To me the problem is simple that no one is giveing Anand a chance and maybe for good reason. Carlsen beat the bloody hades out of him last year and everyone knows it. I am not knocking Anand at all he is in top form but no one would put there money on him at this moment. I was pulling for kramnik hard core. To see two positional mastero go at it and push the lines of new ideas. I could be wrong but Anand is not going to be the greatest person to push the funding ideas when he got trounced last year. I also agree the every year playing for the title is a bit over the top. I hope some good news comes from where they are going to play soon.