The proposed 'Ultimate Championship' between Kasparov and Anand is postponed when the sponsorship deal is withdrawn.
FIDE's Women's World Chess Championship is won by Xie Jun, as she defeats Alisa Galliamova in the final. The proceedings are described as chaotic and unsatisfactory by the world press following Zsuzsa Polgar being stripped of her title and Galliamova defaulting in the Candidates Final.
The Linares chess tournament is dominated by a rampant Kasparov (10½/14), 2½ clear points ahead of Kramnik and Anand (both 8/14).[1]
Michael Adams (6/9) achieves a career-best tournament result, winning at Dos Hermanas ahead of Vladimir Kramnik (5½). Surprisingly, Anand is in joint last place (3½).
At the annual Hoogovens tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Kasparov runs out the winner from Anand and Kramnik.[3]
The Frankfurt Giants takes the form of a 4-player, 4-round, all-play-all rapid event and is won by Kasparov, 1½ points ahead of Anand, Kramnik and Karpov.[4]
Prominent Chess publisher Batsford (formerly B. T. Batsford) ceases business activities.
Bobby Fischer gives a series of radio interviews in Baguio, Philippines. Much of the material is branded distasteful and offensive. Chess journalist Bobby Ang asks that listeners make some allowance for Fischer's state of mind following his recent losses; both his mother and sister had recently died and the U.S. authorities had auctioned all of his personal belongings and memorabilia.[9]
FIDE, the governing body of international chess, celebrates its 75th anniversary. A number of FIDE's member federations, including Argentina, are excluded over the non-payment of fees.[12]
Alexander Baburin launches Coffee-break Chess, an online newspaper for chess fans and a forerunner to his Chess Today and Grandmaster Square ventures.[13]
Deaths
Lodewijk Prins, Dutch chess master and arbiter - November 11
Lembit Oll, Estonian Grandmaster and world top 50 player - May 17
Ortvin Sarapu, "Mr New Zealand Chess", 20-time NZ chess champion – April 13
