The unification process started after a deal was signed between the FIDE, Kasparov and Kramnik in Prague, on May 6.
According to the deal, Kramnik and Kasparov would revoke all claims to any alternative World champion title and FIDE would issue a license to a new body to manage professional chess as a profitable business.
Now, over four years later, all that is about to be translated into reality, in Elista, Kalmykia, the only Buddhist country in Europe.
Prize-money of $1 million will be split equally between the players, regardless of the result.
The driving force behind the match is Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, 44, a millionaire businessman and chess fanatic, who has been President of Kalmykia since 1993, and FIDE since 1995. One of his first acts as president was making chess compulsory in schools.
Indian Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand had noted that due to the fighting between the two world chess associations, 'the game is really suffering with the lack of clarity at the top.'
'Because of the prevailing world economic condition it is tough to get sponsors and still people are trying to hold three World championship matches. The last three years was a circus. And the end result is that you don't have a single marketable person,' Anand had said.
Top: Topalov in a match against Vishwanathan Anand.
Photo Courtesy: Association Max Euwe
Advertisement
