My response to Kramnik

words words words. more words.

Yesterday, the 14th World Champion Vladimir Kramnik “broke his silence” on Russia’s war against Ukraine to Chessbase via email. He had a lot to say and I think it’s important to respond.

Firstly, he used a lot of words. As we all know, words can be used to say some things. Also (importantly), words can be used to say OTHER things. Some of us are using words for one thing or another and some of us, to be frank, are using words to say nothing at all.

A lot of people are asking me to condemn Kramnik’s response and all I can say is that I really, truly, deeply, did in fact read his email. I read all of the words once, and I read them once again to prepare my response. This is an undeniable truth and so-called “activists” might disagree for their own reasons but I know in my heart that I read the words.

So, will I condemn Kramnik? I’d like to say unequivocally that I am against All Bad Things. There is not a single Bad Thing that I am in support of. Even though these public “activists” have never publicly condemned All Bad Things (maybe some, but NEVER all), they choose to criticize my silence on this one minor topic? Well, let me tell you buddy, I have condemned All Bad Things.

As Kramnik himself said:

“I will express my views on this tragic situation WHEN I decide to do so, but only after this empty vanity fair and witch hunt, which I must admit makes me quite angry, has ended.”

So when everybody finally stops talking, then I will, inexplicably, have something real to say.