Enyonam Sewa Fumey - future FIDE President?

 As I read on ChessBase, Enyonam Sewa Fumey from Togo wants to become the new FIDE President, the successor of Arkady Dvorkovich.

In the current times, it would feel wrong to have either an Ukrainian or a Russian as FIDE President. It is not about there being any corruption, but about it possibly looking to the outside that there might be any corruption, even if there isn't any - I believe Mr. Dvorkovich is not corrupt, I believe he does a good job, but in the current times of war his country of origin could be an issue.

So it will be an interesting upcoming election. Mr. Fumey has good chances in my opinion. I didn't know Mr. Fumey at all before. But to the outside world, the non-chessplayers, it will make a better appearance to have someone from Togo than to have someone from an active war country.

I really don't have any opinion here on who is the better candidate, but to keep good optics, it would currently be Mr. Fumey. An African - to my knowledge a continent that didn't have a FIDE President yet.

We had four Europeans - two Dutchmen, one Swede, one from Iceland -, then three Asians - one Filipino and two Russians - as Presidents. As such, an African would be a welcome choice. So far Africa is one of many underrepresented continents. From the information I read, Fumey seems like a great enthusiast. A man who in his chess-political career also improved his own skills, gaining among other accolades the title of an International Arbiter.

One thing seems certain: Whoever wins the election this year will further advance chess to the best of his abilities.

If we can end the horrible war, chess can have a bright future again. If we can't, then likely chess is the least of our issues...

Announcement: 8th FIDE World Cup in Composing

https://fide.com/news/464
https://fide.com/calendar/50617

Composers will be surely pleased to know that the used time controls for composing are "Standard". Due to technical limitations, composers will need to self-regulate this to make sure they don't use "Blitz" or "Correspondence" time controls for composing. Or the dreaded "My wife wants me to stop composing but I only need five more minutes" time controls.

FIDE stops Candidates 2020 (uncommented statement by President Dvorkovich)

Today, the government of the Russian Federation announced that starting March 27, 2020, Russia interrupts air traffic with other countries without indicating any time frames.

FIDE can not continue the tournament without guarantees for the players' and officials' safe and timely return home. In this situation and on the basis of clause 1.5. Rules of Candidates Tournament, the FIDE President decided to stop the tournament. It will be continued later, with the exact dates to be announced as soon, as the global situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic will allow. As it was stipulated by the special rules agreed with the players before the start of the event, the results of the 7 rounds played remain valid, and the tournament will be resumed in the same composition starting with the games of the 8th round. FIDE is grateful to the players, officials, volunteers and the entire team of organizers, including the Chess Federation of Russia and the main partner of the tournament - SIMA-Land.

Sincerely,
Arkady Dvorkovich,
FIDE President


(source: ChessBase)

Israel, Arabia and the neverending chess controversy

With many thanks to a German chess official whose deep knowledge, this time in form of the following link, was shared with me quickly after sending him a nightly e-mail, I can present the following question to readers:
Why is Russia allowed, despite Ukrainians not feeling good going there, to host a World Chess Championship, but Saudi Arabia is denied the same for excluding Israeli players?

Original German link:
https://perlenvombodensee.wordpress.com/2018/12/03/schiffeversenken-im-schwarzen-meer-schnellschach-in-russland/

Google Translate link:
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fperlenvombodensee.wordpress.com%2F2018%2F12%2F03%2Fschiffeversenken-im-schwarzen-meer-schnellschach-in-russland%2F
(Note that "World Championship" is wrongly translated as "World Cup")

[German] Israel, Arabien und die nimmerendende Schach-Kontroverse

Dank einem mit fundiertem Wissen aufwartenden Schachfunktionär, der auf meine nächtliche E-Mail zum Thema den folgenden Link geschickt hat, kann ich die Frage an Leser weitergeben:
Warum darf Russland die Schachweltmeisterschaft ausrichten, obwohl dort Ukrainer sehr ungern hingehen werden, jedoch Saudi-Arabien nicht, da es Israelis die Einreise verbietet?

https://perlenvombodensee.wordpress.com/2018/12/03/schiffeversenken-im-schwarzen-meer-schnellschach-in-russland/

New FIDE creates new Women World Chess Championship cycle [Press release reprint]

FIDE Women's World Championship Cycle

Press release
FIDE and the newly elected President, Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich, consider the development of women's chess to be one of their most important priorities. We believe that this goal can be achieved by increasing the number of elite tournaments for women and by establishing a coherent and logical system to the Women’s World Championship cycle. We are pleased to note that the first official steps in this direction have been taken.
According to the existing regulations, in 2019 there should have been a Women’s World Championship match between the current winner of the 2018 Women’s World KO Championship and the winner of the FIDE Women`s Grand Prix Series 2017-2018. Unfortunately, the previous FIDE leadership were unable to hold the Grand Prix series, thus threatening the 2019 Women`s World Championship match entirely.
It is therefore why the newly elected FIDE leadership have taken the necessary decision to hold the Women’s Candidates Tournament in the first half of 2019. The winner will then earn the right to play a match against the reigning Women’s World Champion. At the last Presidential Board meeting, FIDE reinforced its support for women’s chess by increasing the prize fund of the Women’s World Championship from €200,000 to a record-breaking €500,000.
FIDE has prepared amendments to the 2020 Women`s World Championship Cycle and subject to approval the new structure will look like this:

• Women's Candidates Tournament – first half of 2019.
  
• Women's World Championship Match – between the winner of FIDE World Women's KO Championship and the winner of Women's Candidates – end of 2019.
  
• FIDE Women's grand prix – to be launched and conducted in 2019-2020.
  
• Women's knockout world Cup – to replace Women's KO World Championship with the same financial terms: August 2020.
  
• Women's Candidates Tournament – 2021 etc...

We would like to stress that the prize fund of the new Women`s World Cup will be no less than the prize fund of the current Women`s KO World Championship. All players who are qualified for the Women's World Championship 2020 will automatically proceed to the Women's World Cup 2020 and retain all rights.
We believe that, not only will the new Women’s World Championship cycle guarantee a new range of top-level events but will also bring it in line with the World Championship cycle. FIDE is already working with potential organizers to secure future locations.
FIDE is fully committed to its pledges to make positive reforms. We recognize that there may be some transitional issues, but in the end, having a clear system can only be a huge benefit to chess.
Together we will make chess better.

Bidding procedure for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2019

1. FIDE is opening a bidding procedure for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2019
2. Each bid shall contain the following particulars as minimum:
a) Proposed exact place and dates of the event.
b) Proposed tournament venue.
c) Proposed prize fund for the players (minimum 200,000 euros should be offered net of any applicable local taxes).
d) The contribution to FIDE (net of any applicable local taxes and not less than 20% of the prize fund in addition to the prize fund).
e) Commitment to cover all financial obligations to FIDE, including all the stipends.
f) Commitment to cover all organizational costs, in accordance with the regulations of the event.
g) Category of official hotel (minimum 4 stars), and its name, with special room rates including meals.
h) A statement that the applicant accepts the regulations of the event without any reservations.
i) An invitation for at least two members of the GSC to inspect the proposed venue and examine the other conditions, with all travel and hotel expenses paid by the bidder.
j) The applicant's name, signatures and authentication
k) Letters of support from the national federation and relevant local authorities.
3. A bid is considered valid if it is accompanied with a non-refundable Bid Fee of 1,000 euros payable to FIDE.
4. With effect from 1st January 2013, a bid for any FIDE Competitions onwards shall include the name of a FIDE licensed International Organizer.
5. All bids should be submitted by the due date in sealed envelope or scanned documents to the FIDE Secretariat, postal address: 9 Syggrou Avenue, 11743 Athens - Greece / Fax: (+30) 2109212859 / Email: office@fide.com by 15th December 2018, 16:00 local time (UTC/GMT + 2 hours).

The new FIDE? President Dvorkovic elected, what does it mean?

The era of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is over as president of the FIDE which is regarded as "World Chess Federation" but declares itself as "International Chess Federation". In the era upcoming where Mars is about to be colonized - what a time to live in! - this can become an important distintion, as by its title the FIDE could also be the head of chess federations on the Mars. This, however, will be something to be thought about in the next ten or so years until the projects start.

Today we will talk about the end of the Kirsan era. Kirsan was a man of great political power, but so is Dvorkovic. Mr. Dvorkovic is a (former?) high Russian politician, now president of the FIDE. That chess and politics can go very well is proven by the former Serbian sports minister Alisa Maric (yes, the strong chess master!) and of course by Sersch Sargsjan / Serzh Sargsyan (apologies for probably misspelling the name, as I can't transcribe Armenian, so I use the Wikipedia transcription). As head of the Armenian Chess Federation, the Prime Minister of Armenia (now former) has developed the chess to the level where Armenians won great international tourneys, including the Chess Olympiad, if I remember it correctly.

Everyone is aware that I am an opponent of Kirsan, but FIDE also profited from Kirsan. As Donald Trump has shown - whom I don't want to compare to Kirsan except for the brilliancy as businessman - the great politics led by businessmen can be very impressive, yet also controversial. As president of Kalmykia, Kirsan has built Chess City in Elista, he has shown to be a man whose love to chess is great and rich, and he has collected many sponsors all around the world. But the shadow also lies in those connections, as Kirsan was friends with many dictators, including a rapist of children as young as 16 years old. Now, I believe strongly that Kirsan was not aware of that, but he must have been aware that his friend violated human rights, the Libyan Muammar al-Gaddafi. Furthermore one of Kirsan's banks does business with the pedosexual organisation Da'esh (also known under their propaganda name "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" and under a name that insults the family of Egyptian gods who are holding the power of life and death, namely the sister of Osiris, Isis. Oh, what a shame to see their names be as much abused as the swastika, the holy symbol of protection, was by Hitler and his band of rascals!

In any case, I believe strongly that Kirsan, be he an unscrupulous businessman, is not in his deepest heart one of evil. He is not a good man either, but - in terms of the D&D alignment system - rather on the (true) "Neutral" stance. His interviews given many years ago show that he is searching for the spiritual truth and has not found it yet. He does what he feels he should do, without consideration for the ethical values, but also without the drive to do evil. Unfortunately that brought FIDE in the situation where it is connected with such people who indeed are evil. Kirsan knows them of the both sides, the evil and the good, and this is the critique I must uphold against him. His personality brought FIDE dark clouds, which were recognized when he was forbidden from holding any more power in the FIDE. But with him likely many sponsors will go.

Mr. Dvorkovic is influential, I don't know about his personality, but he will have a rough start. He has the task of showing strength while also being diplomatic and at the same time acquiring new - or old - sponsors for the FIDE. His tests to come will decide if FIDE will prosper, and unfortunately it will also affect the chess composition, which thankfully receives a small funding by the FIDE, as well as the sponsorship for the FIDE World Cup (not to be confused with the game tourney of the same name) where composers can receive FIDE cerficates and small money prizes - big in the composing world.

Kirsan once said, he will go to the monastery when the time has come to stay there for a few weeks. Maybe now is the time, he can re-orient his life. Whatever the case, I want to lay aside my differences and wish Kirsan that he finds the spiritual truth, that he truly meets the love of God, which he is searching, and that he will see the consequences in what he will do in the future to contribute to a strong and prospering Kalmykia and Chess City, and to promote the chess and the kindness to many people.

As for Mr. Dvorkovic, I wish him the strength, the power and the luck to fulfill his difficult task. Maybe we are of one family - gens una sumus - but only the family's eldest and his close workers can do what is necessary now. God bless Kirsan and Mr. Dvorkovic! And God bless the FIDE and give the wisdom to the officials to now prepare a golden future, not to let go of the prosperity that Kirsan has brought!

For me, my personal battle is over. I can make peace. Will there be more to come, then only again for the best of chess - or what I believe to be it. In that stance, I am "Chaotic Good". I speak out when necessary. I put myself on the line. But I hope to do it for the best and not be blinded. Good people can do bad things, and bad people can do good things - against their intention. At least I did not offer money for rat tails to get rid of a rat plague, as it once was done by the British in India, I think. It only led to breeding more rats in order to receive the money for the tails, making the problem worse. Unforeseen consequences...

My statement about Kirsan comes at earliest in October

As everyone knows, I was not a friend of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Now I have read he lost his presidency of the FIDE last month. I will write a statement once the new FIDE president is in office after the October election (currently Makropoulos is acting president).

I am just glad to lay this to rest after so many years!

Fact Check I: (WRONG) Was a 7yo Israeli girl denied access to a World Chess Championship in Tunisia?

The Times of Israel has published an article on 21 July claiming a 7yo Israeli girl was not allowed to participate in the rapid WCh in Tunisia.
Thanks to an informant who wants to remain anonymous it was found out that this information was plain wrong. The tournament there is a privately organized tournament. There was not a FIDE sanctioned event, let alone a World Chess Championship.

We can at the time not confirm if or if not a 7yo Israeli girl was denied entry to that private event, but even if so we would be unable to know the reasons for that (there could be safety reasons, worries for her, not wanting such a young girl to play far away from home, not necessarily an anti-Israeli motivation). However, I believe that a private organizer has the right to choose whom he wants to let participate, meaning even in the event that she was denied participation there would in my opinion be no obvious violation of FIDE guidelines.

So the Times of Israel article is WRONG!
https://www.timesofisrael.com/7-year-old-chess-champ-cant-compete-in-tunisia-tourney-because-shes-israeli/

Many thanks to the informant for the investigation!


Update, 6 August 2018: I was sent the following article:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/tunisia-backtracks-allows-israeli-child-to-compete-in-chess-tourney-1.6342006
The child now is allowed to participate. Again, this is no official FIDE event and we don't know the reasoning of the organizers to not let her play at first or why that decision was changed.

Is Kirsan about to be removed as FIDE president?

http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10098-letter-of-mr-makropoulos-to-mr-ilyumzhinov.html

Please click on either the link or the letter to see it in a readable size!

Garry Kasparov exposed as criminal?

When I grew up, Garry Kasparov was a hero of chess, a monument that nobody could beat, although with Karpov there he was realistically a primus inter parem. Unforgettable are his many world championship games with tactical finesses. He had charisma, intellect, humor. When he ended his career, he still was regarded the best chess player of all time. While by now on paper Magnus Carlsen is stronger, a match between Kasparov and Carlsen, possibly with Fischer, all in their best years, would prove interesting.

But by today, a shadow is lurking over Garry Kasparov: He was banned by the FIDE for two years. The allegation is that Karparov paid money to Ignatious Leong, who was also banned for two years now, in the 2014 presidential election of the world chess federation to receive Asian votes. On top of the 500,000 USD there would have been another one million dollars paid if Kasparov won the election. If that is true - and currently there is little doubt about it - Kasparov at some point must have turned into a criminal, someone willing to break the law for his success. The question now is: When was that point? Was it recently? Or was it already in 1984, when the match againts Karpov was aborted under heavily discussed circumstances? Is Kasparov a criminal? As much as I hate the FIDE under Ilyumzhinov, if the allegations made are true, if the FIDE ethics commission rightfully found both guilty, then Kasparov and Leong should be banned forever, not only for two years, from holding any official FIDE position.

Buying votes is a crime (it is at least in Germany). They should not get a chance to repeat their crimes!

Recent news, 13 August 2014

Hermann Weißauer dead at 93

On the weekend of 2nd and 3rd August, the German composer Hermann Weißauer has died. The sad news was confirmed by Franz Pachl. Dr. Weißauer was Honorary Master for Chess Composition. Born on 4 October 1920, he invented the Weißauer-Bahnung in 1978, which is described as follows in Milan's encyclopedia:

Black clears a line for White after a capture on this very line

The thematic problem can be seen at the de-Wikipedia link given above.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov re-elected as FIDE president

The disputed ex-politician Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was re-elected as president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE). His opponent, World Chess Champion 1985-2000 (undisputed until 1993) Garry Kasparov, received 61 of 174 votes, Ilyumzhinov received 110 of 174 votes. I have no information regarding the three missing votes.

One interesting fact: Ilyumzhinov was a politician first, friend of the Russian government... and then became FIDE president. Kasparov became a politician only after retiring from chess and - after being a political activist, opponent of the Russian government... also wants to become FIDE president.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was president of the Republic of Kalmykia, a Russian republic, from 1993 to 2010. Garry Kasparov dominated the chess world from the late 1980s to 2004 when he retired. Kasparov held the biggest chess rating of all time, an Elo of 2851, in 1999 and 2000. The record was only recently surpassed by the current World Champion, Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen, who set a record Elo 2882 in May 2014. With the Elo inflation, however, a match between Kasparov in his best times against Carlsen today would hold a great suspense...

First Israel Open Solving Championship

The Israel Open Solving Championship was held on 20 July 2014 in the Leyada. The winner was Piotr Murdzia (Poland) while the Israel Championship was won by Ofer Friedland. More information can be found on the official website.

Judit Polgar to retire from competitive chess

While preparing this news article, the message has reached us that Judit Polgár, the possibly strongest chessplaying woman in the world (she never played a woman world championship since she doesn't want to participate in pure woman tourneys), has announced to retire from competitive chess. An article on Chessbase brings further details. Polgár's sister Susan is also a rare chess composer.

Current Woman World Chess Champion is Chinese prodigy Hou Yifan who first gained the title at 16 years old.

FIDE - 90 years old

The FIDE becomes 90 years old today!

Congratulations to the founders, but let us not discuss about their politics of today... ;-)