Reunification of the Chess World

Statement on behalf of Madame Nahed Ojjeh and Einstein Group

Following the press conference given in Moscow by FIDE President H.E. Kirsan Iljumzhinov and Garry Kasparov, Madame Nahed Ojjeh (Paris) and the Einstein Group plc (London) would like to issue the following statement.

1. Einstein Group reaffirms its intention to go ahead with its Classical Chess World Championship cycle as agreed in Prague beginning with the Candidates Tournament in Dortmund, which will start on July 6^th, 2002.
2. Einstein Group will organise the resulting match for the title of Classical World Chess Champion between Vladimir Kramnik and the winner of Dortmund. This match will take place in April/May 2003.
3. Einstein Group and Classical World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik remain, therefore, fully committed to the agreement made in Prague on the 6th May and support the idea of unification to be achieved after the Einstein World Championship Match has taken place as described in that agreement.
4. The Candidates Tournament at Dortmund will be supported by NAO Chess and Madame Nahed Ojjeh.
5. Madame Nahed Ojjeh is pleased to announce that she will provide an increased prize fund at Dortmund of EURO 300.000 (net of taxes).

Split: 1st: EURO 100.000; 2nd: EURO 80.000; 3-4: EURO 40.000; 5-8: EURO 10.000.

6. Madame Nahed Ojjeh and Einstein Group declare their intention to cooperate in future projects including the Classical World Chess Championship, Elite Classical Chess tournaments and to promote Chess in learning and education, through school and internet projects.

Paris, 31 May 2002

Madame Nahed Ojjeh

London, 31 May 2002

Steve Timmins

(CEO Einstein Group)

The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of TWIC, Chess & Bridge Ltd or the London Chess Center.