English Chess Forum

Emil Sutovsky
4 mins ·
Deadline set by Israeli Chess Federation to FIDE for issuing the Saudi visas is expired tonight. No visas. Pretty much expected. I shall meet the head of ICF on Monday to discuss the plans of a tournament in February - for those who could not make it to Saudi Arabia, and those who sticked to their principles and decided not to go there. ACP and ICF are expected to join forces to make it possible.

From Facebook....

Nigel Short wrote:Happy Christmas everyone! Sorry for being early but I am not sure I will be able to celebrate it in Riyadh

Emil Sutovsky
Just now ·
Five days to the start of the World Rapid and Blitz in Saudi Arabia. No list of players - unheard of! No visas for Israeli, Iranian and Qatari players - pretty much expected. But there are more important things: abayas are already prepared for the ladies according to their measurements (no jokes!), and we have an official site with the schedule and the names of arbiters and appeals. Pathetic. And you are welcome to keep joking about pawnography and Coito ergo sum logo.

Sutovsky (quoted by LawrenceCooper) wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 21, 2017 4:56 pm

we have an official site with the schedule and the names of arbiters and appeals.

http://riyadh2017.fide.com/officials/

I see the ECF's International Director and FIDE Delegate is up there on the Appeals Committee.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 21, 2017 9:26 pm

I see the ECF's International Director and FIDE Delegate is up there on the Appeals Committee

Hhmm...and there he is, being Jewish and a strong supporter of Israel too. I wonder how Malcolm squares this

David Robertson wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 21, 2017 10:48 pm

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 21, 2017 9:26 pm

I see the ECF's International Director and FIDE Delegate is up there on the Appeals Committee

Hhmm...and there he is, being Jewish and a strong supporter of Israel too. I wonder how Malcolm squares this

I don't think his religion requires him to hold ill will towards Moslems.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 21, 2017 10:52 pm

I don't think his religion requires him to hold ill will towards Moslems

I'm sure it doesn't. What is far less clear is whether that courtesy is reciprocated. By the greater weight of evidence, it isn't

Earlier this week Houthi rebels fired a long range missile at a target in Riyadh. It was intercepted above the city but the bang could be heard everywhere. I am surprised no one has said anything about this. Last month they fired a missile at the airport also.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 10:17 am

Earlier this week Houthi rebels fired a long range missile at a target in Riyadh. It was intercepted above the city but the bang could be heard everywhere. I am surprised no one has said anything about this. Last month they fired a missile at the airport also.

Does that make Riyadh any less safe than lots of other places, including London? Sorry, but it's the world we live in.

I would say Riyadh is far safer than London but its uncommon for a major chess event to begin in a place that has suffered a missile attack days before. Given that professional chess players are, in general, a rather timid bunch I am surprised nothing much, if anything has been said.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 11:03 am

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 10:17 am

Earlier this week Houthi rebels fired a long range missile at a target in Riyadh. It was intercepted above the city but the bang could be heard everywhere. I am surprised no one has said anything about this. Last month they fired a missile at the airport also.

Does that make Riyadh any less safe than lots of other places, including London? Sorry, but it's the world we live in.

Are you, like myself, in Riyadh also?

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 11:14 am

Are you, like myself, in Riyadh also?

No, never been there. I'm in London.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2017 11:12 am

Given that professional chess players are, in general, a rather timid bunch I am surprised nothing much, if anything has been said.

The most obvious person to have a go would be Sutovsky but, given that Israel is under regular missile attack, that would be rather hypocritical even for him.

Especially when he chose Israel to be his abode yes.