Elusive Russian recluse declines top mathematics prize

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2006

MADRID (AFP) — A Russian recluse who solved a complex riddle won the mathematics world's version of a Nobel prize, but true to form refused to accept the honour or attend the royal awards ceremony.

Grigory Perelman, 40, was singled out Tuesday for resolving Poincare's Conjecture, which has perplexed mathematicians since it was coined by the Frenchman Henri Poincare in 1904.

But he was nowhere to be seen at the 25th annual International Congress of Mathematicians in Madrid where Spain's King Juan Carlos handed out the Fields Medals to Perelman and other winners.

"I regret to inform you that Dr. Perelman has declined to accept the medal," said Sir John Ball, head of the International Mathematical Union hosting the congress.

Organisers did not expect...