Arbiter opens Topalov file

WIJK AAN ZEE: Veselin Topalov and his manager Silvio Danailov are being closely watched by the chief arbiter at the Corus Chess Championship after an International Master accused the duo of using ‘illegal’ resources to win. Writing for a German newspaper, IM Martin Breutigam said he found Danailov and Topalov’s behaviour quite suspicious. Breutigam said the arbiter had promised to keep a close eye on the duo’s behaviour after being reported of it. Topalov currently leads the table with eight points from 12 rounds.

“The chief arbiter had not noticed anything suspicious, but he said that he would be looking out for any conspicuous behaviour during Topalov’s next game,” he said. “Anyone who watched the two during rounds two and three could get the impression that a process of non-verbal communication was taking place between the two — only noticed by those who watched carefully, in the De Moriaan hall,” Breutigam wrote.

“In the second round Topalov had the white pieces against the six times Dutch champion Loek van Wely. He castled queenside, van Wely kingside. Until the middlegame nothing special happened. This changed when manager Danailov entered the hall,” he added as he elaborated on Topalov’s second round match.

Breutigam said after every move by van Wely, Danailov used his mobile phone to contact somebody and then came back to make eye contact with Topalov from the spectator area. “During the following hour a strange ritual kept repeating itself. As soon as van Wely made a move Danailov rushed out of the hall and pulled his mobile phone out of his jacket. Danailov would return to the hall after a short time, always move to the same corner of the spectator area and put on a pair of glasses, although he has not been known to wear spectacles before.

“Topalov sat on the left-hand side, from the point of view of the spectators, Danailov stood on the right-hand side, behind a barrier and in the anonymity of the masses, about 15 meters away from Topalov. From that corner he could establish direct visual contact without Topalov having to move his head.

Indeed Topalov looked up, when it was his turn to move, and as soon as he caught sight of Danailov in the corner, he would usually put his elbows on the table and fold his hands across his forehead,” he added as he explained the unusual behaviour of Topalov’s manager.

The Dutch player later said though he did not suspect any foul play during the match but had been told of Danailov’s behaviour. “During the game I did not at all have the impression that anything was fishy, but I was also told that Danailov was behaving in a very suspicious fashion,’’ said van Wely.

Breutigam said the match was interuppted by the arbiter to inspect Danailov’s activities. “With precise moves to a draw on move 23, with Danailov standing there with his glasses, the arbiter suddenly moved into the field of view and scrutinised the manager. On move 26 again the ritual was interrupted for a moment, when someone asked Danailov for a spontaneous TV interview. Both left the hall,’’ the German wrote.