The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Chess-News.ru (@Chess__News)

Vugar Gashimov passed away three years ago. Baku, Azerbaijan today. Standing from left in front of the memorial statue are Sanan Shafizadeh, Sarkhan Gashimov – Vugar’s elder brother and manager – and Grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

The Economist Intelligence Unit

For the liveability index, a total of 140 cities were assigned a rating by The Economist Intelligence Unit over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors in five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Ninth on the list is Azerbaijan’s capital and commercial hub, Baku. Latest ranking: 103; Ranking five years ago: 108; Five-year index movement: 1.6%. (Pictured: Men play chess in the old city). Photo: Andrea Pistolesi/Getty Images.

The opening ceremony of the 42nd Chess Olympiad will be held at the National Gymnastic Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan, on September 1, 2016, starting at 19,00.

Utopia

Chess-News.ru (‏@Chess__News)

Chess-News.ru Poll: Should the members of Olympic chess teams play for free? If not, what else? For further details, see http://chess-news.ru/node/21938. The poll is related to the fact that several more or less renowned Grandmasters won’t participate in the upcoming 42th Chess Olympiad at Baku, Azerbaijan, in conflict with their national federations, which do not contemplate their receiving any remuneration in the shape of money at all. Both Mr. Silvio Danailov – Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov’s manager – and Mr. Tarjei J. Svensen – Magnus Carlsen’s Twitterman – promptly objected that their protégés are used to play for free, when the national flag is hoisted in worldwide team chess competitions. But, with due respect for their saccrifice, this cannot be an argument which applies to everyone, because in all other circumstances both Topalov and Carlsen, thanks to their status as top Grandmasters, have regular access to the exclusive and opulent circuit of the so-called super tournaments, in which shines the criterion of the capitalist pyramid. For the most of others, life is infinitely harder and more volatile. As a rule no one should work for free, or still worst, no one should work for free just to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. I think everyone would be happy to represent “his own country” for any takes but the honour, but “his own country” should give everyone a fair chance and access to the common goods. But since this is utopia (they say), maybe it is better to pay all those who deserved to be paid. It’s the only (democratic) way to keep calling it utopia.

Intourist’s Service Bureau

Nigel David Short (@nigelshortchess)

A vintage tourist poster released by Intourist, the official state travel agency of the Soviet Union, promoting the attractiveness of Baku, Azerbaijan. Image courtesy of hronika.info.