June 12, 2024

Checkmate for the Russian Chess Federation


Checkmate for the Russian Chess Federation
Local parks may have heavier chess traffic for the next two years.  The Russian Life files

In a move boxing out one of the world's chess-iest of nations, the International Chess Federation has stripped the Russian Chess Federation (RCF) of membership for the next two years.

The RCF was banned before, in 2022, following the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The International Chess Federation (known by its French acronym FIDE) found the RCF guilty of damage to the FIDE's reputation and noncompliance with FIDE principles.  

Russia has long dominated international chess competitions, with Soviet and then Russian players holding World Champion titles from 1948 to 2008 (with the exception of American Bobby Fischer from 1972 to 1975).

The current RCF grandmaster is 39-year-old Ufa resident Denis Khismatullin, who, to the FIDE's point, is a vocal supporter of the war on Ukraine

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