Letter to FIDE

All Things Chess
1

OK…what’s the next step?
Mr. Nigel Freeman
Executive Director
World Chess Federation

Dear Mr. Freeman:

I write openly on behalf of the United States Chess Federation (“US Chess”) to express growing concerns that our Federation has with the World Chess Federation’s (“FIDE’s”) general casualness toward its own rules and statements, to FIDE’s lack of responsiveness to us as a member nation, to the questionable status of its president, and as well as to its economic health.

On October 6, 2016, I wrote to FIDE, care of yourself, to ask that any religious requirements for the Women’s World Championship in Iran be spelled out plainly respecting the obligatory wearing of hijabs, as well as for any other religious conduct requirements that might be imposed upon the participants. Without repeating my earlier letter, the text of the provisions at issue may be found in Section 1.2 of the FIDE Handbook, as well as set forth in Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter. At the time of my earlier letter, we found it peculiar that FIDE held itself to the world as being opposed to discriminatory treatment and as a guardian of equal rights, only to award the Women’s World Championship to a country that resides at the center of controversy concerning the fair and equal treatment of women. We continue to find FIDE’s actions peculiar.

I never heard from you on the above matter except in the briefest email by which you told me that my questions would be answered after FIDE conferred with the Iranian Chess Federation. That was months ago. Later, and without any of the promised answers being provided, you invited me to search out Mr. Makropoulos while he was in New York for the World Championship. For a world sporting organization, this lack of a formal response was troubling. When this indecorous behavior is coupled with the conduct of a World Championship on U.S. soil without so much as a word in advance to the nominal “host” Federation, FIDE’s conduct becomes insulting. Chess deserves better. So does US Chess.

We are also concerned about the ongoing role of the current FIDE president. FIDE’s communications regarding its President have created a confused state of affairs. FIDE issued a public statement more than a year ago, shortly after the time Mr. Ilyumzhinov was sanctioned by the U.S. Government, in which FIDE declared that Mr. Ilyumzhinov would have no further business, legal, or financial involvement with FIDE’s affairs. The ostensible purpose of his withdrawal from those affairs was so that he could “concentrate on clearing the situation with the US Department of the Treasury.” (See FIDE’s Statement of 12/16/15.) It is beyond time for FIDE to update the world of chess on that “situation.” The world’s greatest game suffers immeasurably under Mr. Ilyumzhinov’s persistent cloud. His own statements do nothing to benefit chess, but rather exacerbate the confusion, including an absurd demand that he be granted U.S citizenship. Moreover, despite that the December 2015 FIDE statement set forth that Mr. Makropoulos would exercise the powers of the president, we note that Mr. Ilyumzhinov has recently attended more than one international event appearing in ceremonies as the President of FIDE. If there has been a change in FIDE’s December 2015 statement, please announce the revisions.

Finally, we have received an open letter from the President of the Confederation for Chess of Americas (“CCA”), President Jorge Vega, in which he states that he finds FIDE’s financial situation “worrying.” As President Vega points out in his December 2016 letter, on several occasions AGON has failed to live up to its end of agreements with FIDE, with a predictable injurious effect on FIDE. The failure of AGON to make contractual payments has caused difficulties for some federations that would normally receive support from FIDE. President Vega states that he has informed FIDE in strong terms that it should cancel the agreement with AGON in light of its nonperformance. We echo President Vega’s concerns and recommendations.

US Chess will not standby and quietly watch as FIDE’s corporate and presidential conduct damages the game of chess. While we remain ever optimistic and continue to believe in Gens Una Sumus, we fervently hope that FIDE will improve its communications, sets its Presidential Board in full order, adhere faithfully to its rules and regulations, and forthrightly present and improve its financial health for the good of the game.

Very Respectfully,

Gary L. Walters, President, US Chess

new.uschess.org/news/open-lette … e-of-fide/

2

“What’s the next step?”

It appears that the United States Chess Federation, as a member of FIDE, has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged the international organization by saying that “US Chess will not standby [sic] and quietly watch…” This implies that some action will be taken by the federation. We can speculate what can be done, but no specifics are given in the letter to Nigel Freeman and FIDE by the president of US Chess.

What possible actions can be taken?

  1. Legal action in the courts or CAS, either through federation initiation or urging the US government to take action to fully implement State Department warnings and sanctions.
  2. Alliance building with a number of other affiliates to oust the present leadership of FIDE.
  3. Continued work within FIDE
  4. Withdrawal from FIDE
  5. Establishment of a new organization for chess and a call for other federations to join.
  6. Do nothing more than write letters to FIDE periodically.
  7. (Insert your own idea)

As for the options, (1) will be expensive, unless it will be paid for or done pro bono. A specific cause or damage will have to asserted. It is unlikely that the US administration will get involved in a significant way considering its affinity for Russia at the present time. (2) Has already been tried with lack of success because of the number of federations beholden to the present FIDE leadership. Without Russia and the former Soviet republics signing on, fundamental change of leadership is unlikely. (3) Continuation of the status quo. Maintenance of the US position on various technical committees and official positions to protect player and federation interests. (4) This would be a drastic step with potentially unforeseen consequences. (5) Would require a considerable financial outlay from outside funding to establish an organizational infrastructure to maintain. (6) Easy for the FIDE leadership to ignore or use in petty and vindictive ways to affect US players.

3

I am only, ever, speaking for myself. No individual EB member can speak for the EB as a whole except for the President.

FIDE will continue to have a US national federation. If US Chess “withdraws” then I expect that some existing FIDE academy would be elevated by FIDE to be recognized as the national federation. And the principals of one in St Louis have told various folks over the years that they are angling for that opportunity. I do not believe we want to give them that chance.

A certain academy in Chicago was also being positioned to take over the US FIDE affiliation but the principal from that organization is deceased so that is no longer a possibility.

4

Politics is a tricky situation. Was it wrong to hold the tournament in Tehran? A lot depends on one’s point of view and the current political situation with that country as a whole.

One could successfully argue the USA is unfit for FIDE tournaments based on a variety of issues. China has a plethora of human rights violations, but we continue to trade with China and buy mass quantities of good from there. Should China be banned from FIDE tournaments? They’ve killed one million Falon Gong and harvested thier organs for organ transplants, yet that story was barely a blip on the radar screen because the USA is addicted to cheap Chinese goods.

5

Interesting point. One could also argue that FIDE should not have held the WCC match in the US because of the constitutionality of the death penalty. However, the issue as to FIDE and Iran is different in that foreign competitors in an international sporting event are being required to act in a certain way due to their sex and religious belief. That’s why Iran has been boycotted for years by the Olympics and individual world sport governing bodies as to siting world championships in Iran.

6

It is difficult for us to held a major international event here due to the US government restrictions on travel and visa issues.

7

What event(s) has been affected?

8

We have not bid - there is little point to do so when players, or officials. from countries would be banned from attending. This pre-dates the recent Trump travel ban issues. In most other countries the national chess federation is part of the government or is funded by the government and so there is more ability to resolve legal issues like visas.

AS far as I know we have no intention to bid on a major event anytime soon. The FIDE monetary/complementary stuff demands are so high that there is no way for us to fund it. Unless there is government money involved because the government just wants to do it - like in Iran this year - or unless there is simply a well-heeled benefactor who wants to do it it is almost impossible to afford.

9

At present, the 9th Circuit has stayed the EO on immigration. The Bannon/Trump administration has not appealed that decision. Screening of visitors is pretty much what it was. In as much as that EO is quite recent, are you saying there were projects in the works that have now been put on hold until the EO issues are clarified by either the courts or an new EO?

The second, FIDE related issue is completely different.

10

Not once again I am only speaking for myself.

No I am not saying that. Not at all.

The recent EO and what appears to be its cousin next week are not the first travel restrictions that the US government has imposed. There is a history of the US being somewhat restrictive in issuing visas. There have been countries in the past from which it was extremely difficult to secure a visa to come to the US. In many countries where the national chess federation is very close to the government then it is easier for them to arrange for visas. We don’t have that sort of situation in the US.

We have experienced folks calling US Chess for us to help them get visas to come here to play - which of course we cannot do at all.

11

Still, there was just a WCC match held in the US and the S Cup in St. Louis. I suspect the bigger issue is funding for major international tournaments and, as you pointed out, FIDE financial requirements more than visa issues. For example, USA Shooting, the Olympic governing body for Olympic shooting in the US, holds a world cup for all Olympic shooting disciplines each year at Ft. Benning and those folks arrive with equipment much more dangerous, potentially, than chess sets.

12

Those chess events had very small bases of participants. A World Youth, for example, is a different kettle of fish.

USOC has a different level of cooperation with the government than do we - and Ft Benning has its own security protocols.

Is the visa issue a major thing? No. But it is a thing to deal with.

13

Focusing on visas, a completely different issue from site security, the only person I’m aware of who was denied a visa to attend was Kirsan due to Treasury Dept. Sanctions. Other Russian oligarchs came and went as they pleased visiting the event. That included a close associate of Vlad Putin.

As for Ft. Benning, I’m not aware of any shooter qualified to participate from any country having been denied a visa. I will check the country list from Ft. Benning and will note anything different. I’ve seen Iranian women shooters in 10 meter air pistol and air rifle competing while wearing a hijab at European and Asian World Cup matches.

You’re correct that the visa issue isn’t a major one yet. Time will tell whether it becomes one with the crew now in the Executive Branch of our government. As for organizational relations with the US Government, does US Chess have a designated Executive Board governmental liaison? If we don’t, perhaps we should.

14

We do not have such a position. In my view this is one of the roles of the US Chess President and ED

15

I agree.

16

US Chess (and FIDE, for that matter) should be narrowly pragmatic even while asserting non-negotiable principles. The Scandinavians can’t host every world championship event.

Iran is a special case. Women’s rights are fundamental. (Yes, religious rights, including the rights of the Falun Gong, are fundamental, too, but the Chinese do not restrict the religious practices of foreign players in FIDE events.) In Iran, it’s the invited players themselves who are not being given a choice. And it’s FIDE who awarded the event to Iran.

When it comes to women’s rights, Iran is far more progressive than a couple of the US’s political allies. But relatively light oppression is still oppression.

In US Chess’s dealings with FIDE, it would be wise for us to steer clear of positions that would polarize our membership. We live in polarizing times. The honorable President of US Chess has handled the matter admirably so far.

We can’t change the world, but we can exert considerable pressure on FIDE not to pull this stunt again. What to do in the long run? While the threat is often stronger than the execution, there is something to be said for the execution.