August 14, 2024

The Dagestani Gambit


The Dagestani Gambit
Was it the right strategic decision? Probably not. Aaaatu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A chess champion from Dagestan, Amina Abakarova, reportedly spilled liquid mercury on the chessboard of her opponent, Umayganat Osmanova. The incident is being investigated as a deliberate poisoning to kill a rival.

Soon after the spill, Osmanova fell ill. An ambulance was called for her, and her doctors later argued that her condition could be a result of mercury poisoning.

Security camera footage shows Abakarova spilling an unknown substance onto Osmanova's table. Abakarova also reportedly told other chess players that she planned to poison Osmanova out of revenge after losing a match to her in July.

Abakarova faces lifelong expulsion from the North Caucasus Federal District Chess Championship and criminal prosecution. 

Or perhaps recruitment into the FSB.

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