telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11 … -players/#
I hope that US Chess will publicly support Nakamura’s position. Perhaps it’s time to start working to replace FIDE?
The only way to stop this form of discrimination is if all of the top players refuse to play in this type of official mock championship event. However, since there is so much money involved, I do not expect that to happen. Money trumps principle, all pun intended. There will always be players who will cross lines for money, even if it makes them international pariahs.
True. However, it seems that there is a good deal of pressure being placed on Carlsen to not participate. It is to be hoped that he’ll boycott the event(s), but money talks and nobody walks.
It’s been time to replace this thoroughly corrupt organization for a long time. Some half hearted efforts have been made, but none of them ever gained much traction. I’m hoping that this may be a catalyst for a real alternative to emerge, but I’m not holding my breath.
I’m only an aging sub-1000 rated amateur, but I have to scratch my head…why would anyone think it is a good idea to hold an international chess event in a place where some of the world’s strongest players would not be allowed to participate?
Because money from the Saudis will line the pockets of FIDE and some of it’s leadership?
This event was not announced at the recently completed FIDE Congress, nor were there bids, nor was there any review. Just like the Iranian hosting of the women’s world championship, the event was announced late and outside the normal FIDE rules for awarding events.
Agon never paid FIDE the fee for the Rapid/Blitz world championship held in Germany. The powers that be in FIDE decided they would waive that fee and not demand it to be paid. There have been calls to void the contract with Agon - most notably from Americas President Jorge Vega. But that contract is still in effect.
However, to call for US Chess to simply withdraw from FIDE is not realistic. FIDE will have a US national federation. I believe it is far better for that to be us rather than for it to be someone who perhaps likes to curry favor with FIDE and is complicit to FIDE shenanigans. There clearly have been behind the scenes maneuvering over the years to supplant US Chess within FIDE, although those efforts do not appear to have gained much traction.
What is not realistic is believing that you can somehow reform FIDE from the inside. FIDE has been a corrupt organization as long as I can remember, and I’m well into my seventh decade. It’s governance structure is such that just getting rid of the top guy won’t change anything. Campomanes left, Ilyumzhinov took over, and what, exactly changed for the better? Ilyumzhinov will leave one day, possibly fairly soon, but don’t expect much to change with FIDE when that happens. It’s one thing to stay with FIDE for the nonce when they are the only game in town, as long as you’re also working to supplant them with a better organization. If you’re just going along with them because “somebody else would be worse”, then how do you differ from Vidkun Quisling?
Flag on the play – violation of Godwin’s law – penalty, you have to edit that message to not compare the present FIDE goings-on with World War II.
It’s not a violation of Godwin’s Law. It’s a confirmation of Godwin’s Law.
FIDE is an international criminal enterprise that has, at least so far, monopolized international chess. To help US players succeed internationally US Chess has to go along with them for the time being. I get that. But not to also work to supplant them with something better is to become complicit in their actions.
“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.” - Edmund Burke
Before Campomanes, FIDE was an above-average international organization. It had to cope with Cold War issues, not always gracefully, and it was too Eurocentric, but still very good compared to other sporting organizations of similar size.
Below the top levels (pardon me for repeating myself), there are many good people in FIDE.
Chess in KSA and Iran may be more closely tied to the national government than one expects, but our silly board game welcomes iconoclasts looking for a tiny bit of personal freedom (as long as one castles with one hand). Blame FIDE for placing events in these nations without negotiating conditions to ensure players’ freedoms (freedom to play in the event is basic); don’t blame the national federations or their players.
Particularly ironic: KSA & USA are political allies; KSA & Israel have a steamy semi-closeted relationship.
FIDE will have a US national federation. Period. That body will be the one that is charged with looking out for US players interests. I would rather than be US Chess than Susan Polgar and friends.
The national chess federation in almost every country of the world is either directly a part of the government sports ministry or receives a significant percentage of federation funding form the government. The US model is exceedingly rare, if not unique.
Before Campomanes, and after he was “elected” to head FIDE until its dissolution, FIDE was controlled by the Soviet communists. Ref., for example, Campomanes’s abrupt termination of the 1984-85 Karpov-Kasparov match when it became clear that Soviet darling Karpov was probably going to lose. It wasn’t my idea of an above average organization, but YMMV.
At lower levels there are indeed many good people who work for FIDE. Some who direct FIDE rated tournaments I know personally. But the people who steer the ship are not “good people” by any reasonable definition of the term. That’s what is important here.
I fully agree. In the short term that is best. But to effect any real and meaningful change it will be necessary to replace FIDE.
Yes, and this governance structure of FIDE’s is a reason why Ilyumzhinov is able to get 2/3 of the votes any time he runs in an “election.” And a reason why attempting to reform FIDE from within is not going to work.
This was a concern during the Polgar litigation. Brian Mottershead and I discussed this a length with Bill Hall over dinner in Boston back in 2009, IIRC.
Replacing FIDE is the only alternative. FIDE can not, and will not, be reformed from within.
Much easier to say than to do.
Why not have all international chess events in Switzerland? Neutral country, beautiful scenery. Surely there’s a billionaire or two somewhere who could easily finance them. The top 1% has gotten steadily richer over the last 30 years.