It was mentioned to me by a friend of mine that there is a posting on the USCF forums that GM Gata Kamsky has asked USCF for support in preparation for his match against Topalov. That really posed a great question, is that the type of activity that USCF should be committing resources to in order to promote chess in this country?
It is important to note that since we have not seen the letter and therefore don't really know what he was asking for. If he was asking for support to raise sponsorship and awareness, that really is something USCF should do. If he was asking for help getting seconds, again this is something USCF should help with. If he is looking for money, then I am not quite so sure. Any amount USCF gave him would need to be tied into him promoting chess in the US. I also would want an idea of how much he was looking for and how it would be used. After all, he just won 120K for winning the world cup, and how much more for even just playing the match.
I realize that many people were critical of the USCF for not helping Fischer more in the 70's, though Fischer probably didn't make it easy for USCF to support him other than donating some duct tape to go over his mouth. Kamsky, I would guess to be much more reasonable. It will be interesting to see this story develop over the next few weeks.
Glenn
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Roustam Kamsky sent Chess Express Arrabal a letter with hi take on the situation which was posted at:
http://chessarrabal.blogspot.com/2007/12/very-important-letter-kamsky_25.html
That letter has been archived along with links to the discussion at the USCF Forums at:
http://chessusa.blogspot.com/2007/12/kamsky-to-play-topalov-does-america-or.html
Bill Goichberg has responded on the USCF Forums that: "What I wrote was that USCF does not have the funds to help, but that it is important that we pursue the possibility of finding sponsorship. A campaign involving an appeal to the membership in Chess Life and on our website might be part of such an effort."
Is Rustam still estranged from Gata? Not really relevant, but curious.
After reading Goichberg's letter, I really think it was pretty reasonable. I guess I would have liked to see Kamsky offering up a budget if he is asking for that type of money. Also, if he stands to make 250K even if he loses to Topalov, and just won 120K, why can't he just get a loan?
I can appreciate the difficulty and the history of what he is doing, but he never has struck me as an "ambassedor of the game". I would like to see him win though. How smart do Al Losoff and Fred Gruenberg look now for having him appear next year at the National Open!
Glenn
glennpan,
May you be praised!
You are the coolest and best!
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