13:51 29/04/2010 » Sport
Chess: Aronian not to participate in the World Champion qualifiers’ matches in Baku
Commenting on the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s interview to “Sport-Express” newspaper (April 28, 2010), GM Levon Aronian has announced that he has never agreed and will never agree to play the World Chess Champion’s qualifiers’ matches in Baku.
The Armenian Chess Federation has sent an official letter to Mr. Ilyumzhinov, FIDE Presidential Board members, Sport-Express newspaper and other famous chess periodicals over this, Armenian Chess Federation reported.
Source: http://www.panorama.am
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Is there something wrong with Baku?
No, Judit will be there. Aronian is afraid of getting destroyed by a girl.
It took almost a day for the organizers to mop up the body parts after Judit totally destroyed her last male opponent.
What irrelevant comments. It is not president cup the topic. But candidates tourney to challenge the winner of ongoing Anand Vs Topalov match. Because of political rivalry between Armenia and Azerbijan. Mostly the solution is split the tourney into two. One at Baku without Aronian and with a local Azeri. And the other one at a different country with a nominated local player. The winners will mee to decide the challenger.
Armenia and Azerbijan are but farts from the world’s hindquarters!
What is important is Judit will have a chance at the world crown!
Come on Aronian! If Anand can play in Sofia why can’t you play in Baku?
Indians are not hated in Sofia, for God’s sake! Open up any Azeri news and read on – anti-Armenian hysteria is promoted from the top these days. How could Aronian go there and play in that environment and what was freaking Ilumzhinov thinking???
I guess Ilumzhinov was trying to secure Azerbaijan’s support against Karpov.
The next WC challenger was to be decided in a match between Aronian (Grand Prix winner) and Gelfand (World Cup winner), as was announced at the start of the cycle.
This “candidates tournament” is just not fair for these two guys
(with all due respect to all other participants).
Wake up, there is no anti-Armenian hysteria in Azerbaijan, and its not only Aronian who is afraid to come to Azerbaijan. Armenian wrestlers refused to come to Baku few weeks ago, just because they knew they would be crushed. Moreover, Russian wrestling team excluded several Armenian athletes who represent Russia from those who traveled to Baku. Azeri officials as well as Azeri people in general, could guarantee complete security of your athletes.
Lets face it, there is no threat to Armenian athletes. If Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, a strong proponent of occupation of Azeri lands, who visited Baku 2 days ago can make it, then I think it should not be problem for Levon.
For you the naive thinker – the problem is not the fear of getting physical injury in Baku. The problem is how well Aronian or other athletes will maintain their moral state while being among azeri haters. For a chess player that would mean a dropped down performance.