tromso

All Things Chess
1

Isn’t it time we had a discussion about the various issues involving the Olympiad, including the possible shift of it to Sochi?

2

While there are many issues with the event, moving to Sochi is not one of them.

3

For those who need a quick catch up, go here: en.chessbase.com/post/olympiad-t … a-deadline

Events are already at a fever pitch. It is almost impossible to make sense out of how matters have escalated to this level. Questions include:

  1. Why did the Russian Chess Federation (RCF) think that it could delay registration while waiting on Lagno (a former Ukranian player and the new Russian first board)?
  2. Why did the Olympiad organizers (COT) invoice Russia for two teams more than 30 days after their stated deadline of June 1. (RCF paid the invoice promptly.)
  3. What rule is COT relying upon to turn away several teams? (I’ve yet to see a rule that supports their decision.)
  4. Why is there chaos over the visa requirements? Where was FIDE in ensuring that this be done smoothly? (Some players are being required to travel to Norwegian embassies in other countries at nearly the last minute to obtain a visa.)
  5. Why did Israel Gelfer, a FIDE VP, place the blame for the Russian women’s team being turned away on Kasparov? (Okay, so the reason may be transparent, so the real question is on what basis (set of facts) is this accusation being made?)
  6. Yesterday, I suggested to some that FIDE ought to confirm or deny whether Gelfer’s comments about Kasparov’s blame were the official position of FIDE. If so, then FIDE ought to provide the basis for these comments. (One will see from Illyumzhinov’s letter linked above that Gelfer’s comments are very likely the official position of FIDE. So, again, what is the basis for these accusations?)

Please note that I am not taking sides here, finding plenty of blame to go around for the COT, FIDE, and the RCF. We should, however, be erring if at all possible for the inclusion of the players. An Olympiad without the defending women’s champions on such a technicality would be nearly disgraceful. As for FIDE’s blame of Kasparov for the events unfolding, they owe us all either an explanation for these remarks, or an apology.

I speak for myself on these matters, not the USCF.

Gary

4

#7 – Given the organizer invoice to the RCF, why did they vote to disallow the RCF team rather than charge the 100euro fee for player name changes?

5

Interesting side note: The Russian Chess Federation has hired Quinn Emanuel–a very powerful US litigation boutique firm–to represent it against the Norwegian organizing committee.

6

The RCF joins Washington’s NFL franchise as a Quinn client.

7

Regarding #4 - visa matters are the responsibility of the organizing committee, not of FIDE. It’s generally in all bids that the organizer will ensure easy access to apply for visas along with confirmations / invitations and working alongside their embassies abroad. Going to another country is not easy access.

I would have to go dig up the bid for Tromso but if memory serves me correctly the organizing committee guaranteed visas for everyone applying but I would have to validate that.

One matter not brought up here is what I would consider a serious matter. The arbiters are being placed at hotel that’s over an hour away from the playing hall (on top of not having tables at each match group). This will lead to issues especially in food service because many times food service is at specific times and if you miss it oh well. Match arbiters at an Olympaid are usually the last ones to leave.

This is all unfortunate as the players suffer.

I’m going to leave the politics out of this.

8

This offers all sorts of fun coming up with new words for the Christian Hymm ‘Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel.’

The opening is easy:

Oh come, oh come Emmanuel
And ranson captive Kateryna Lahno

Anybody want to take up the middlegame?

9

I’ve moved this topic from USCF Issues to All Things Chess.

10

I believe that you refer to the ‘Washington Redskins’.

11

That is a correct clarification. I decline to repeat the franchise’s name myself, although such a refusal risks confusion with the Seattle Seahawks.

12

I don’t understand what the June 1 deadline has to do with whether or not a team can participate. The June 1 deadline is for submitting team details as required by regulation 3.7.1, which can be read in the FIDE Regulations for the Chess Olympiad document. Here is 3.7.1:

The only penalty given for failure to meet the requirement of 3.7.1 is given in 3.7.2:

The only deadlines I see whose failure allows (in fact, mandates) exclusion are 3.6.1 and 3.6.2:

So, did the Russians notify the organizing federation by April 1, and did they pay the entry fee to FIDE by April 1? If yes, they should be allowed to participate. If not, then they CANNOT be allowed to participate.

If they made that deadline and missed the June 1 deadline, then they should be subject to several hundred Euros of late fees, but that is all.

13

All teams accepted to the Olympiad.

14

The Norwegians issued a statement saying they were right but the banned teams can play after all.
This comes a day after Kasparov on his campaign web site indicated that the Norwegians were correct in banning the Russian women.
BTW, the FIDE election has gotten so dirty that this YouTube video of a Kasparov meltdown seems to be going viral among chessplayers.
youtube.com/watch?v=ugK2nqeUKP0

15

Uploaded three years ago. Hardly a character attack.

I was tempted to retweet Kirsan’s photo (seen at Chessbase.com as, “The countries I paid for votes.”