New Deadline: GM Kamsky had requested a two month extension of the deadline to allow more time for bid preparation, but it was uncertain whether FIDE would agree.

News came in that FIDE President has authorized the extension of the bidding deadline for the V.Topalov – G.Kamsky match until April 23rd 2008.

GM Kamsky Needs Your Help…

USCF Seeks Sponsor for Kamsky-Topalov Match
By USCF President Bill Goichberg

The United States Chess Federation is seeking a sponsor to enable a bid for the World Championship semi-final match between GM Gata Kamsky of Brooklyn, NY and GM and former World Champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria.

The match is expected to be held in December 2008, and the winner will play a match for the 2009 World Championship against the winner of the Anand-Kramnik match to be held later this year.

While we would welcome an offer to hold this match in the United States, we will also assist a bid to hold it in a neutral country that is not home to one of the players, and the latter might be preferred by FIDE.

Gata Kamsky’s great achievement of defeating all his World Cup opponents, mostly top GMs who were assisted in preparation by their governments, despite lacking the sponsorship necessary for such training himself, marks him as a strong contender for the World Championship.

Gata is the only American to play for a world title since the late Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky in 1972, and has previously won matches against both the current World Champion, Viswanathan Anand, and his predecessor, Vladimir Kramnik.

Donations Can be Made To:

The Gata Kamsky International Chess and Sports Foundation
P.O. Box 204,
Massapequa Park, NY 11762.

Related USCF Articles: Support Gata’s Quest For The World Championship