A Martian Odyssey

The Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) will back the candidacy of Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov for President of International Chess Federation (FIDE), RCF President Andrey Vasilievich Filatov said to a TASS correspondent in Moscow.
Ilyumzhinov’s candidacy got a big boost when incumbent FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich announced his decision not to rerun for office in the wake of EU sanctions imposed on him.
“Tertium non datur. Now Kirsan Nikolayevich will wander in the infinity of the universe. He was the second Russian candidate in the upcoming elections. Accordingly, one is out, and the other is in”, TASS quotes Filatov as saying.
FIDE presidential election will be held at FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 26–27. In addition to Russia’s Ilyumzhinov, Germany’s tycoons Wadim Alexandrowitsch Rosenstein and Jan Henric Buettner announced their candidacies.

“My doors are open, not only to the backers of Dvorkovich but to anyone who cares for the unity of the chess world”, Ilyumzhinov said. ”I also welcome any suggestions from the two German candidates”. Photo: Alexander Shcherbak/TASS.

Twist and Twirl

On June 7, 2024, FIDE Ethics Commission released first instance decision with regard to the chess policies of Chess Federation of Russia (hereinafter CFR) in the new Russian territories, according to which “CFR is sanctioned by a temporary exclusion of membership in FIDE for two years from the date of this decision”, while FIDE President, Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich, “is sanctioned to a reprimand”.
Both CFR and Dvorkovich will appeal the decision to the competent FIDE General Assembly scheduled for September in Budapest, Hungary, at the 45th Chess Olympiad.
CFR President Andrey Vasilievich Filatov, however, was deeply irritated by the “politically correct” attitude shown by his fellow Russian FIDE President commenting on the ruling, accusing him bluntly of fence-sitting. “I would describe the policy pursued by Dvorkovich within FIDE with a sentence, ‘I twist and twirl because I wanna cheat everyone’”, Filatov told TASS.
In Machiavelli’s terms, it might even be a compliment.

俄罗斯国际象棋联合会 (Chess Federation of Russia)

Today, Tuesday, February 28, 2023, in the presence of FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich and Chess Federation of Russia President Andrey Vasilievich Filatov (both pictured above), the Continental Assembly of the Asian Chess Federation held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has voted by large majority in favour of the Chess Federation of Russia’s joining the Asian Chess Federation, thus marking an epochal shift in the history of the royal game. The passage will take effect on May 1, 2023. In thanking the delegates for their trust, Filatov said: “I hope for further fruitful cooperation and participation of Russian teams in the continental championship and for holding of Asian competitions in Russia, which has many times successfully held tournaments at the highest level and has all the associated infrastructure”. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Chess Federation of Russia.

Geography in a Time of War

On April 14, 2022, the Supervisory Board of Chess Federation of Russia unanimously voted to switch the Chess Federation of Russia’s membership from the European Chess Union to the Asian Chess Federation — a no-return move aimed at breaking up the conventio ad excludendum against Russia. As has now been reported, the application will be taken into account in the first quarter of 2023. It should be stressed that for most Russian Grandmasters the Chess Federation of Russia’s change of continent is the only alternative to a personal change of sporting nationality. Speaking with the TASS correspondents, Russian Grandmaster Alexander Igorevich Grischuk very prudently said that “The matter is difficult, because no one knows what and how will happen in the world. In the short run, that is good, at least for chess. I don’t know about football. But in the long run, it’s difficult to predict — even for chess”.

Silent Spring

Speaking with RIA Novosti, FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich revealed that Mexico has shown great interest in hosting a World Chess Championship match between the challenger Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi of Russia and the vice challenger 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) of China, since the legitimate World Champion, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, formally renounced his title due to format issues. “We have not yet received any official application or [financial] guarantees as to the hosting of the match”, Dvorkovich said. “Mexico was the first to show interest. I won’t name other interested countries, as we are now discussing such issues. In terms of organisational opportunity, Mexico suits us because of its complete neutrality. I have no doubt that China would also be very interested in hosting the match, but we’d prefer something a bit more neutral”. Last, but not least, Dvorkovich announced that “The time of the match between Nepomniachtchi and 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) is April next year.

Tiger Balm King

Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich of Russia was re-elected for a second term as President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Sunday at FIDE General Assembly in Chennai, India. He secured 157 votes, against 16 votes for the other candidate, Andrey Vadimovich Baryshpolets of Ukraine, while Bachar Kouatly of France, the third candidate, withdrew his candidacy just before the election. Dvorkovich’s re-election implies that five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand of India, who was running on his presidential ticket, is appointed as FIDE Deputy President. Photo © David Llada.

And Then There Were Two

Belgian Chechen-born filmmaker and screenwriter Inalbek Sultanbekovich Sheripov announced yesterday his withdrawal from FIDE Presidential race, supposedly for health reasons. It’s a fact, however, and, indeed, that his electoral campaign had not even really begun. And so, with all respect to the tandem Bachar Kouatly & Ian G. Wilkinson, the election came down to a two-horse race, which will conclude one of the worst electoral campaigns in the history of FIDE, incessantly poisoned by the most trite rhetoric of war. First as tragedy (the Russo-Ukrainian war), then as theatrical play, with the incumbent Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich, a Russian mandarin, challenged by an Ukrainian manager 2.0, Andrey Vadimovich Baryshpolets, each of them being accompanied by an eminent Deputy — Viswanathan Anand and Peter Heine Nielsen, respectively. To say nothing of all the “spin doctors” who hide themselves in the background, in the “shadow”, ready and eager to ignite their dormant flames of hate and frustration. It is a pitiful sight truly, but also a crucial one in terms of human social life. India is hosting, for the first time in the history of FIDE (and with marvelous enthusiasm!), the 44th Chess Olympiad — from which Russia has been excluded and which China boycotted. And concurrently with the Olympics, India will also host the pivotal congress which is going to elect president(s), vice presidents and secretary-treasurer for the coming term. Whatever it be, God will save the Queen. Or maybe vice versa.

Lexicon

Speaking with the press yesterday, 15th World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, the deus ex machina of India chess boom, said that FIDE will likely revisit the format of the World Chess Championship, provided that the incumbent government remains in office — that is, if Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich will be re-elected for a second term and Anand himself will be appointed as his Deputy. Whether the announced changes will adequately address Magnus Carlsen’s requests, however, remains to be seen.

A Scientific Romance

FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich was expelled from the Presidential Council for Science and Education by decree of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin published on June 28. Dvorkovich was a member of the Presidium of the Council for Science and Education because of his being Chairman of the Skolkovo Foundation, a post from which he resigned in March following his not pro-belligerent declarations with regard to the Russo-Ukrainian war.

A Gentlemen’s Agreement

Speaking at a meeting of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Thursday, Deputy Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Andrey Mikhailovich Fedorov said that the International Chess Federation (FIDE) agreed to refund Russia the sum of over €1 million for the cancellation of the Chess Olympiad, which was originally scheduled in Russia, but due to the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war, was then moved to India. “In May this year, the International Chess Federation decided to return the funds in full — amounting to over €1 million €uros”, TASS quoted Fedorov as saying. “At the moment, almost €830,000 €uros have already been transferred to the Ugra budget, it being a part of what the region allocated in connection with the holding of said event on its territory. We expect FIDE to pay back the difference in the near future”.

मसाला चाय (Masala chai)

Alea iacta est! Shortly after the deadline for submitting candidacies for FIDE presidential election expired, it is now finally ascertained that there will be four ticket candidacies:

• Andrey Vadimovich Baryshpolets & Peter Heine Nielsen;
• Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich & Viswanathan Anand;
• Bachar Kouatly & Ian G. Wilkinson;
• Inalbek Sultanbekovich Sheripov & Lewis Ncube.

In spite of his difficult circumstances as a Russian high official, Dvorkovich can rely upon the votes of most, if not all, South-East Asian countries, not to say of Russia and Belarus, and on the esteem of half Europe. Moreover, none of the big names who in past years campaigned for FIDE Presidency took the field to challenge him — and this must mean something, whatever it means.
But Baryshpolets & Nielsen, of course, do not want to lose the election. Their electoral program does not leave room for Machiavellianisms and political compromises: they are pro-business, anti-corruption, pro-transparency — as they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Their ideal FIDE is as apolitical as it is involved in geopolitical issues — which may sound like a contradiction, if not a Gordian Knot. Curiously enough, Baryshpolets is not the candidate of the Ukrainian Chess Federation — and that’s probably the best of references!
Last but not least, the last two candidates: Belgian Chechen-born filmmaker and screenwriter Sheripov (a.k.a. Inal Sherip, Inal Cherip, Inal Cheripov) and French Grandmaster Kouatly. They too are running for President or perhaps they’re just hunting for votes and alliances, at worst. Just for political fiction’s sake, suppose that Sheripov is a hologram of 7th FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov and Kouatly a hologram of President of Chess Federation of Russia, Andrey Vasilievich Filatov, the one and the other being each nonetheless interested in measuring their relative political power, in anti- or pro- Dvorkovich function.

Waiting for Godot

A minor Ukrainian Grandmaster, Andrey Vadimovich Baryshpolets, has advanced his candidacy to the post of FIDE President, in an attempt, whether seriously or not, to set a challenge to incumbent Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich. On the wings of enthusiasm Danish Grandmaster Peter Heine Nielsen, also known as the coach of 16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, announced that he will run as Baryshpolets’ Deputy. The apparent naïvety of their electoral programme is in itself a manifesto for captatio benevolentiae, if not for change. So, the question arises, who would Carlsen vote for?

Butterfly effect

Apparently, Russian Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin has no more friends since he has been stripped by FIDE of his right to join in the 2022 Candidates Tournament as a reprisal for his pro-Russia political views with regard to the Russo–Ukrainian war. At the moment, his career seems to be irreparably deadlocked, but he still believes that new autarchic scenarios may be developed. “There are Grandmasters in the top 20 in the world rankings who supported me and Russia — they put it in writing”, TASS quoted Karjakin as saying. “Hence, if invitational tournaments are held in Russia, there will be no risk of stagnation. It is clear that Magnus Carlsen won’t come, but we, as a chess school and as a chess nation, are on the top of the world. We are able to hold tournaments of the highest level, and I, among other things, began to work in this direction”.

Post-Secondary Contingencies

Today (May 16), the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has officialised the nomination as eligible candidate of Chinese Grandmaster 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) in the forthcoming 2022 Candidates Tournament at Madrid, Spain. The investiture of 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) came after a six-month ban was slapped by FIDE itself on Russian Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin — the legitimate candidate — because of his pro-Russia political views with regard to the Russo–Ukrainian war. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)’s eligibility, however, is (at least in theory) still contingent on Karjakin’s pending appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Last Christmas

If nothing else, in his bid for reelection for FIDE Presidency, incumbent Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich can rely on the vote of his own federation, just as the President of Chess Federation of Russia, Andrey Vasilievich Filatov, told TASS on Thursday. “The discussion of the candidacy for the 2022 FIDE Presidential elections took place at the Supervisory Board of the Chess Federation of Russia on December 17, 2021. As an outcome of the discussion, the Supervisory Board unanimously backed Dvorkovich’s candidacy with a marginalia reading ‘if he decides to run’. Members of the Supervisory Board noted the high quality of the work carried out by the International Chess Federation in 2018–2021, as well as a qualitatively new level of competitions and interaction between FIDE and the Chess Federation of Russia”, Filatov declared. “Today, as soon as Arkady Vladimirovich announced his readiness to go to the 2022 elections, the Chess Federation of Russia backed his candidacy, wishing him victory and success. The development of chess in all its diversity is our common cause”.

Gotta Move On

12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov welcomed the decision of incumbent FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich to run for reelection. “Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich has already put forward his candidacy. He did the right thing”, Karpov said, as quoted by RBC. “I do not understand why he shouldn’t participate in the election. It is clear that European countries won’t back him, America won’t back him, but the International Chess Federation comprises 191 countries. In order to win one must get somewhere around 97 votes. It is not known who will be his opponent. But if we talk about the situation, then somehow we believe that Russia is isolated. I can’t agree with that. Ya gotta try”.

A Passage to India

In spite of the many oppositions, FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich was reported by Sport-Express as feeling quite optimistic over his chances to be reelected for a second term. In an official statement to ChessBase India, Dvorkovich said he will make public the details of his electoral program in the very near future, anticipating, however, that, in case of his victory, 15th World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand will be named his Deputy, Jøran Aulin-Jansson from Norway and Mahir Alasgar Mammadov from Azerbaijan will be appointed as Vice Presidents, and 9th Women’s World Chess Champion 诸宸 (Zhū Chén) from China will be confirmed as Treasurer.

Bees and Honey

Today (May 8), the International Chess Federation (FIDE) officially opened the call for candidates in the presidential elections which will be held concurrently to FIDE Congress in Chennai, India, July 31–August 9, 2022. Togo’s Enyonam Sewa Fumey and incumbent Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich are so far the only candidates who have declared their intent to run for Presidency. So, who else will join them?

The Curse of a King

Speaking with the TASS correspondent, 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov hinted that the 2022 Candidates Tournament, scheduled in Madrid, Spain from June 16 to July 5, might be postponed due to organisational and sponsorship issues. On one hand, it is hardly coincidental that Karpov has leaked such information on the very same day in which FIDE dismissed Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin’s appeal, thus in fact, depriving him of the right to compete in the Candidates Tournament. On the other hand, he showed skepticism about the chances of success of further appeals: “I think it’s pointless to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as it follows the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, but our federation absolutely must raise the issue to FIDE Congress. It’s nonsense that the Ethics Commission can make political decisions”, Karpov said.

Avatar

On Friday, May 6, 2022, FIDE dismissed the appeal presented by the Chess Federation of Russia on behalf of Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, thus confirming the ban of six months. “It was all understandable, unpleasant, but I had no illusions about it as well”, Karjakin told TASS commenting on FIDE’s decision. “We will be now filing an appeal with CAS and we have ample grounds for this move. But, unfortunately, there will be no guarantees as well and chances are very small”. It goes without saying that, if Karjakin’s appeal to CAS proves unsuccessful, his spot in the 2022 Candidates Tournament will be taken by Chinese Grandmaster 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén).