Chess Federation Loses Home After Defying Kremlin
23 May 2010
The Russian Chess Federation has been evicted from its premises after refusing to back Kremlin aide Arkady Dvorkovich in his bid to elect Kalmyk President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to a new term as head of an international chess organization.
The security guards at the Central House of Chess Players building in downtown Moscow were replaced and its rooms were sealed Friday, Anatoly Bakh, the federation chairman, told Ekho Moskvy radio.
Bakh said the takeover was orchestrated by Dvorkovich, who chairs the supervisory board of the Russian Chess Federation.
Bakh and Dvorkovich were unavailable for comment Sunday.
In April, Dvorkovich said Russia would support Ilyumzhinov’s re-election as president of the World Chess Federation, or FIDE, which he had helmed since 1995.
But last week, the federation supported a bid by former chess champion Anatoly Karpov instead.
Dvorkovich has said the federation’s support for Karpov lacked “legitimacy” on technical grounds.
Ilyumzhinov has ruled Kalmykia, one of Russia’s poorest regions, since 1993, but his term in office expires this year. The Kremlin has not said whether President Dmitry Medvedev will reappoint him.
Oleg Smolin, a State Duma deputy with the Communist Party and an avid chess player, said Ilyumzhinov had lost the Kremlin’s support and the FIDE post was supposed to be a “consolation prize.”
Karpov’s candidacy is supported by a number of European sport federations, as well as Garry Kasparov, his former rival turned liberal politician.
…FIDE has said the incumbent is supported by its four continental presidents.
Source: http://www.themoscowtimes.com
If there is a full meeting of the board, Karpov will win with an ovewhelming majority.
So let’s have that meeting and clear up the matter.
Karpov lacks credibility. He said he wants to end chess corruption. The problem is he couldn’t provide concrete examples. To make things worse, he teammed up with some of the biggest crooks in chess within the USCF. These are the crooks who misappropriated millions of dollars of members’ money and drove the USCF into the ground. They’ll do the same to FIDE. No thanks!
Thank you for your fair and balance reporting.
I’m also disappointed with the people Karpov surround himself with, people with very shady backgrounds.
I hope both sides will stop the rhetoric.
“Oleg Smolin … said Ilyumzhinov had lost the Kremlin’s support and the FIDE post was supposed to be a “consolation prize.”
They seem to forget that FIDE is actually an international organization.
“and drove the USCF into the ground”
In which sense? Actually, the US chess championship going on now is one of a few national championships we have reports about.
“I’m also disappointed with the people Karpov surround himself with, people with very shady backgrounds.”
Examples please, and also in which sense are they “shady”?
“I hope both sides will stop the rhetoric.”
Agreed. In particular, we should stop making extraordinary claims without support, as they don’t persuade anybody.
The RCF ED can’t account for about $2 million. It disappeared while the players suffered. The CFC is in a big financial hole. The USCF is $500K in debt with a maxed-out credit line. The US Championship has nothing to do with them financially. It’s RS’ money. You obviously have no clue about the state of chess.