The international chess world is experiencing a shocking month
As if the 2022 anal beads scandal (which is absolutely not true) wasn’t big enough, the chess world is now being rocked by some even more serious allegations: two players have been suspended, one for allegedly poisoning her opponent and the other for alleged sexual harassment of female chess players.
Russian chess player Amina Abakarova has been temporarily suspended by the Russian Chess Federation after she allegedly attempted to poison her opponent, Umayganat Osmanova, with mercury during a tournament on August 2. The Russian Chess Federation pointed out Polygon’s statement from President Andrey Filatov, confirming that Abakarova has been temporarily suspended from official competition until the police investigation is completed. After that, they will decide whether she will be disqualified for life.
Russian state media claims Abakarova has been arrested and is being held by police, citing Telegram channels, but Polygon has not been able to confirm that claim. Video reportedly showing the alleged poisoning is circulating on social media: In it, a dark-haired woman strolls over to a specific chessboard in a room full of chess pieces, takes something out of her bag and then apparently smears it on various pieces. The mercury is said to have spilled from a broken mercury thermometer, according to Chess.comAccording to the report, Osmanova felt unwell after playing on that board, but was eventually able to finish the tournament.
Subsequently, on August 12, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) issued a ruling against international chess master Andrejs Strebkovs, who allegedly sent used condoms and pornographic photos to multiple female chess players, some of whom were minors, over a period of at least 10 years. FIDE’s detailed report includes at least 14 separate letters, all sent from Latvia but using different names, including those of other prominent chess players.
Strebkov’s sexual harassment became known to the world after a Russian news site based in Latvia published an in-depth report detailing Strebkov’s behavior over the past 10 years. Latvian police opened an investigation and confirmed that the DNA from the condoms matched Strebkov’s; however, the case was closed on January 10, 2023, FIDE reported, because sending the pornography and condoms was not a criminal charge in Latvia.
In view of the evidence, FIDE found Strebkov guilty of violating the rules. Strebkov responded, FIDE said, by claiming that his conduct was not relevant to the chess federation. “The defendant’s statement addressed only the question of the admissibility of the complaints and did not provide any arguments on the merits of the charges, not even a denial of guilt,” the federation wrote in its government documentStrebkovs is banned from all FIDE events for five years.
Here is part of the FIDE report:
According to the definition of harassment as systematic, hostile and repeated acts that violate the dignity of a person, the respondent’s conduct qualifies as such conduct. The respondent’s unwanted and disturbing letters containing obscene sexual content are repeated and are clearly of a sexual nature. Although some victims initially rejected the envelopes or thought they were a joke, some eventually felt the negative, psychological effect. The EDC rejects the respondent’s position that these envelopes were “private correspondence.” One only has to consult a dictionary for the definition of correspondence to know that it includes communication between two parties, who know each other. Sending envelopes under an alias and pretending to be someone else does not qualify as correspondence, especially if there is no element of a response. Even if the respondent had sent the letters under his own name, it would not have qualified as “private correspondence.” The main reason for this is that the sender and the recipients did not know each other. The only connection between them was the fact that they all belong to the FIDE family.
Strebkovs has 21 days to appeal the decision. The player has not been stripped of his ranking or international master title, according to Chess.comPolygon has contacted FIDE for additional comment.