ECU General Assembly Resolution on Boycotts

[David Sedgwick]

"When the news of the unprecedented competition with an Israeli athlete was first publicized by the media outside Iran an official of the Chess Federation of Iran said the athletes had not been aware of the nationality of their rival, which is highly unlikely."

Yes, it certainly is.

I am not so sure.

The event was a Blitz tournament played at 5 minutes + 3 seconds per move. It was a 9 Round Swiss with 88 competitors.

I have played in similar tournaments, at Hastings for instance, without having any idea of the nationality of some of my opponents.

The tournament took place on Saturday 14th December, not on Monday as the Iranian report claimed.

A similar tournament took place yesterday, Wednesday 18th December. The two Iranian GMs did not play.

I note that in the forthcoming World Rapid and Blitz Championships there are Iranian entrants only in the Women's Tournaments, in which there are no Israeli entrants.

Make of the above two paragraphs what you will.

The real test will come the next time that an Iranian is paired against an Israeli in a Standardplay event.

[Leonard Barden]

I note that in the forthcoming World Rapid and Blitz Championships there are Iranian entrants only in the Women's Tournaments, in which there are no Israeli entrants.

Make of the above two paragraphs what you will.

The real test will come the next time that an Iranian is paired against an Israeli in a Standardplay event.

Alireza Firouzja is now entered for the World Rapid and World Blitz. The chances that he will be paired with an Israeli at some point must be quite significant.

New in Chess says that he and his father are now living in Paris,which could also be relevant.

[NickFaulks]

New in Chess says that he and his father are now living in Paris

Not before time.

[Chris Rice]

Firouzja now has a FIDE flag

[Leonard Barden]

The very latest developments in the Firouzja story:

https://perlenvombodensee.de/2019/12/23 ... ertheless/

[Chris Rice]

The very latest developments in the Firouzja story:

https://perlenvombodensee.de/2019/12/23 ... ertheless/

Also Maghsoodloo and Tabatabaei featured in that article which appears to bear out what David Sedgwick was suggesting a few posts ago:

"Radio Farda and the Persian BBC branch have taken up the story again over the weekend. Now it seems clear that Maghsoodloo and Tabatabaei actually did not know that an Israeli was sitting across from them, and no official was nearby to warn them. When the Iranian Ministry of Sports requested clarification from the Iranian chess association, the two grandmasters had to fear the worst. They would not be the first to be banned from chess for the rest of their life.

Maghsoodloo’s argument that during a blitz tournament one often doesn’t even know his opponent’s name, let alone his nationality, seems to have caught on. There was no draconian punishment for the two "culprits". Instead, Iran is now punishing its entire team of top players by prohibiting them from participating in the Rapid and Blitz World Championship. Only the women may play since no Israelis are registered for the women’s competition."

In the open competitions further encounters between Iranians and Israelis could have occurred, especially so, since FIDE has abolished the policy of not allowing Israeli-Iranian pairings. The Iranian Ministry of Sports is now putting a stop to this possibility by forbidding its people to play.

If this ban did not exist, a number of Iranians would have played. Grandmaster Pouya Idani, number four of Iran, said in an interview with this website (not yet published) that the rapid and blitz world championship was a highlight in his personal tournament schedule."

[David Sedgwick]

In Round 1 of the World Rapid Championships in Moscow, a Saudi was paired against an Israeli. The Saudi defaulted.

In Round 3, a different Saudi was paired against a different Israeli. Again, the Saudi defaulted.

Both Saudis have been allowed to continue in the event.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Thought that Israel and the Saudis were mates these days?

[NickFaulks]

Thought that Israel and the Saudis were mates these days?

Their military are, seems like the Ministry of Sport didn't get the memo.

[Chris Rice]

Obviously bigger things going on with Iran but Nigel Short tweeted that the Iranian Chess Federation has banned Mitra Hejazipour in perpetuity from the national team for the crime of not wearing the hijab at the recently concluded King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Moscow.