"We"? Who are "we"?

As for titles being invented by Kramnik, didn't we discuss it already before Kramnik lost the title? Doesn't make sense, but then again, the people you refer to as "we" hardly ever make logical case for whatever it is you happen to believe.

Didn't Kasparov claim he had the real title before he even played Kramnik? how can you claim Kramnik fans invented it? Again, intellectual dishonesty is the only thing that is behind "Anand is the champ" claims.

In fact, it is strange how Steinitz foresaw Kramnik's problems and challenged Zukertort to a match after he lost the tournament Yet somehow Anand fans pretend Anand is in the same line as Steinitz. It is funny how Kramnik supposedly invented the title while the title is over 120 years old. Kramnik must be really old

Anyway, since the Anand fans are such hypocrites, they shouldn't be surprised if the hypocrisy comes back to bite them some place after Anand plays Kramnik

I have thought about it some more and I made up my mind. Anand fans have indeed presented a compelling case why Kramnik was never the world champion. So I am willing to agree with them and officially stop considering Kramnik the (former)classical world champion. (Of course, since I only care about classical title, neither will I recognize any post-Kasparov FIDE champions, for obvious reasons). But since he beat Kasparov, afterall, I will give Kramnik one more chance. If Kramnik beats Anand, I will (reluctantly) start to recognize Kramnik as the 14th world champion again, and as a 4 time title holder - no questions asked. But if Kramnik fails to beat Anand, it means Anand fans were right and Kramnik was not really a champ to start with, and was just a fluke. Of course, in this scenario, neither can Anand become the true champ even if he beats Kramnik, because Kramnik was never the champ himself. So in this scenario I will consider Kasparov as the last champion and I will consider the true title vacant, pending the reorganization of FIDE and -preferrably- the installation of the old-school cycle like the ones in the 80s.

KT, I don't want to boast myself but you know what you should know this. When I read this I just come to realize that I am doing a great service to Kramnik unwittingly towards removing the "?!" at the end of his title by advocating for him to qualify and to play a proper title match.

What can I say, you were absolutely right, PA. What was I thinking when I said Kramnik was the champ? Nah, Kasparov is the last real champ, but it makes no sense to consider someone a champ since the 1993 split. Now, if one of the top 4-5 contenders, heavyweights like Kasparov (if he unretires), Kramnik, Anand and Topalov beats all others in series of matches, I would consider such a person as the next world champ. But otherwise, while Kramnik may have the best claim, I am reluctant to consider him (or anyone else) the champ. Thanks for explaining things to me, PA. Not considering Kramnik the champ makes WAY more sense.

You are welcome, RB!

Its okay you can consider Anand the absolute world champion cause by the time he would have won a match title, tournament title, knock-out title, rapid title, blitz title?? and what not?

Nah! You are forgetting I am the hardcore classical/match guy. That hasn't changed, I am just going to be a real skeptic now, thanks to you and other Anand fans. So I will have a very demanding criteria. I will consider the title vacant. I will take a look at the top 4-5 players or so for the recent years, say, Kasparov, Anand, Topalov and Kramnik. If one of those players can beat the other 3 in matches, I will consider that guy the champion #14 and the true successor to Kasparov. Seems fair, right? Kramnik has the best chances, since he already did beat Kasparov and Topalov, and it wouldn't fair of me to take those accomplishments away. So if Anand beats Kramnik, he will only be 2 match wins away from being the champ.

I didn't even think for a moment you would take up a position Petrosianic was refering to a while ago so soon! That was quick. Real quick, you could say.

Wow, Russianbear, I DO hope that that stuff has now totally ended for you!


Chess Fan

Well, Anand is ONLY a World "Tournament" Champion.

Believe me, Anand knows as much as anyone else just how *very much* that he needs to win this up-coming Match over Kramnik to *really and truly* prove his World Champion's credentials!


Chess Fan

Well, IF Kramnik beats Anand in this up-coming Match, then, yes, of course I will be happy that my Active Player Main Chess Man won the Match!

And, yes, IF Anand beats Kramnik in this up-coming Match, (even if it is only by the STUPID tiebreaker method), then, yes, I WILL then recognize Anand as having become the 15th Classical World Champion of chess.


Chess Fan