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Chess Femme News |
2008 Women's World Chess Championship
August 28 - September 18, 2008
Introduction
August 15, 2008:
If
you've been following the news, you know that after Georgian armed forces
attacked separatist forces in its territory of South Ossetia (long history of
unrest and separatist activities, encouraged by the Russians), the Russians sent
in their army and slaughter
of innocent civilians by the Russians and maurauding South Ossetians ensued.
The Russians are, at the present time, an occupying force in Georgia. It
has been suggested that the actual goal of the Russians is the oil pipeline that
runs through central Georgia.
The WWCC is being held in Nalchik, the capital city of Russian republic Kabardino-Balkaria (see map). How Nalchik came to be the site of the 2008 WWCC hasn't been made public as far as I can determine.
The championship was originally scheduled to be held in a South American country in June, 2008, and when that fell through for unknown reasons, there were some reports in the chess press that Turkey was stepping forward to host the event. That obviously fell through, too, because the next anyone heard, the WWCC was being held in Nalchik and everyone said - WHERE?
Mig noted on June 2, 2008 at his Daily Dirt chess blog (in a discussion on the scheduled match between Kamsky and Topolov) And at least it won't be held in Nalchik, the site of the belatedly announced women's world championship. More than just bathroom ceilings have been attacked in Nalchik lately.
After reading Mig's post and reading about what had happened in Nalchik, I wondered whether it would be a safe place to hold the WWCC. After Russia invaded Georgia, it seems quite evident that the entire area is not safe! South Ossetia, which is not shown on the map, is just to the south of North Ossetia. News reports have indicated that maurauding South Ossetians and Russian occupying forces (and perhaps Russian bandits) are all over Georgia and no doubt on both sides of the border between Georgia and North Ossetia, and maybe in Kabardino-Balkaria too.
It is under this scenario that the gutsy women of the Georgian women's chess team wrote an open letter published first at Chessbase on August 12, 2008 asking that the WWCC be held in another location because they feared for their personal safety:
| Open letter by the
participants of the Women World Championship of FIDE We, the participants of the Women World Championship 2008, express our worry about the current dangerous situation near Cabardino-Balkaria. We think when there is such a tense situation, it is not expedient to hold such a high level tournament in that area. That’s why we kindly ask you to move this tournament to the safer place, which would be convenient for all the participants. If you agree with the above, please join us with signing this letter, and please send it to FIDE and to us (Maia Chiburdanidze, Lela Javakhishvili, Sopio Gvetadze, Nino Khurtsidze, Maia Lomineishvili, Sopiko Khukhashvili) by e-mail: wchampionship@yahoo.com We do not have the email addresses of all participants and kindly ask you to send this message to other participants you know. |
The letter said not a word about politics. These players' concern - legitimate, I'd say - was for the safety of the players! Nalchik is 60 miles from a war zone! Anything could happen.
I called the women who signed the letter gutsy because it took guts to do something that the Georgian players had to know would bring down massive condemnation (and probably retribution in one form or another at a future date) on their heads from the powers that be. And so it proved to be.
FIDE's Fearless Leader weighed in on the subject the next day:
| From
FIDE: Dear chess friends! After having read the open letter of several participants of the forthcoming World Chess Championship in Nalchik (Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Russian Federation), I would like to make the following statement: The World Chess Federation is in close contact with the Russian Chess Federation and the Championship's Organising Committee. The FIDE delegation visited the city of Nalchik during 5-6 August and took part in the meeting of the Organising Committee. According to the information received, the preparation for the tournament has entered its final stages, and a lot of attention has been given to the issues of food, accommodation as well as the provision of all necessary security. We are aware of the recent developments in South Ossetia, and would like to express our most sincere condolences to all who have become victims of this terrible tragedy. However, in the current situation I appeal to all not to mix politics and sport, and not to involve FIDE and the world chess community into political, territorial and other disputes. All the issues should be settled at a chess board, and not beyond its limits. This issue is particularly critical during the days of the Olympic Games. I am confident that we shall witness a very interesting World Championship in Nalchik, which will be organized on a proper level. See you in Nalchik. We are one family. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov FIDE President Elista, 13 August 2008 |
The following are from Chessdom.com:
Statement
of the ECU President Boris Kutin Statement of Arsen
Kanokov |
The Organizing Committee (headed by a Russian) of an event to be held in a Russian republic was "bewildered" by the women's request? Forgive me for snorting in disbelief. It was the Russians themselves who introduced the subject of politics in their response to the request of the women chessplayers to move the WWCC to a safer place by accusing the women of being pawns - no doubt of the "evil" Georgian government.
The response of the Georgian chessplayers to this official disregard for their safety was to withdraw from the WWCC.
At the time of this writing, I don't know if other invitees will opt out, whether for safety reasons or out of personal convictions. I do know that without the Georgian players, the WWCC will be a much less worthy event.
August 20, 2008:
Update! Kirsan just can't seem to keep his foot out of his mouth. He issued another statement yesterday, August 19, 2008, published at Chessbase and at Susan Polgar's popular blog. New names revealed of players supporting the Georgian chess players' open letter. Find it all here.
August 29, 2008:
It's official! Chessdom.com is providing "official" live coverage of the WWCC and according to them, ELEVEN players did not show up to play in Round 1, including France's Marie Sebag, who recently earned her third and final GM norm at the European Individual Chess Championships! Wow!