A match to "unify" the world chess championship is under way in Elista, Kalmikia (FIDE president Kirsan Ilymzhinov's backyard). Kramnik followed up his fantastic Olympiad performance by going up 2-0 after the first two games. After a couple of draws, the psychological games began and resulted in the toiletgate scandal.
Instead of continuing the hugely interesting games, we had the edifying sight of Topalov complaining about the number of times Kramnik needed to visit the restroom and getting a pliant FIDE appeals committee to change playing conditions. The full details are too silly to elaborate. Kramnik forfeited game 5, refusing to agree to a change in conditions not approved by him. The match seemed to be over then, before Kramnik agreed to play game 6 under protest. Kramnik has clearly been wronged, and there is a huge outpouring of support for him.
Kramnik's conduct with the "classical championship" had been a bit dodgy, with him refusing to grant Kasparov a rematch and avoiding playing against any other worthy opponent. I thought Topalov had a better claim to being called world champion. But Kramnik has got off to a great start in this match and it looks as if the Topalov camp decided to use every means at their disposal to turn things round.
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