The chess world is thrown off its hinges
Because of Putin’s war, major upheavals are imminent in international chess
Source: pa/Zoonar/Alexander Limbach
Sponsors, officials, tournaments: top international chess is dominated by Russians. However, the managing director of the world association is a Latvian. She is now getting down to business, while a grandmaster no longer wants to compete for Russia.
Dhe Chess Olympiad 2022, awarded to Moscow, will not take place in the Russian capital due to the war in Ukraine. This was announced by the world chess association Fide. The event with chess players from around 190 countries was to be held from July 26th to August 8th. Fide chief executive Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Latvia’s former economy and finance minister, issued a personal statement condemning the “brutal Russian invasion”.
Ahead of a meeting on Sunday, Reizniece-Ozola called on Fide Council members to divest themselves of all Russian sponsors and move all operational activities out of Russia. It would be a profound step. The world association is dominated by Russian officials and above all by Russian money.
Fide CEO Dana Reizniece-Ozola wants to part with all Russian sponsors
Source: pa/dpa/TASS/Donat Sorokin
The main sponsors of the association include four large Russian companies. On the one hand the gas producer Gazprom, which also co-finances Schalke 04 and the soccer Champions League – on the other hand the mining company Nornickel, the fertilizer manufacturer PhosAgro and the nuclear company Rosatom.
Current online tournament is played from Moscow
The whole thing is led by Fide President Arkady Dvorkovich. The Russian was head of organization for the 2018 World Cup and had previously been active in politics for many years, including as one of the deputy prime ministers in Moscow.
The currently ongoing online tournament of the $1.6 million Meltwater Champions Chess Tour will also be played from Moscow. The final between world champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and the Russian Jan Nemponjaschtschi is scheduled for Saturday.
Meanwhile, the German Press Agency reports that a first Russian grandmaster no longer wants to play for his home country. Vyacheslav Tillitschejew therefore no longer wants to compete under the Russian flag in tournaments until further notice.
