FIDE Congress

[Paul Cooksey]

I don't follow FIDE politics closely but Russia clearly a main topic. Remarkable to see Magnus using his speech at the FIDE100 award ceremony to argue against readmission

https://x.com/MagnusCarlsen/status/1836876540027752543

[LawrenceCooper]

It appears they are having a few issues in counting votes: https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxBWZ2rs ... EiqBrA8gm0

[NickFaulks]

You have to feel a bit sorry for FIDE on this one. They were told they must buy in a totally independent online voting system, with which they have no involvement whatsoever, and the first time it is used it lets you vote lots of times for the same position.

So they have had to go back to the old voting method. If they can even get through voting in Ethics Commission today, that will surely be the end of business, so Russia tomorrow.

[Paul Cooksey]

A victory for democracy I would say and a rare good day. Yolander Persaud elected chair of the Ethics Commission by 86 votes to 75 defeating the Romanian candidate who had well documented links with a far right pro Russian party in his home country.

I'm surprised. I thought Russia would get what it wanted.

[NickFaulks]

Voting on the Russia / Belarus questions has ended.

FIDE Council wishes to negotiate with IOC to see whether some special Russian players, such as those with disabilities or under 12, might be allowed to play international chess. Malcolm says he has information that IOC will not contemplate this anyway.

There was another proposal, to allow them back in fully.

The result was entirely predictable. USA and its military allies opposed Council's proposal. Russia and its allies voted mostly for reinstatement, although some had made themselves absent. Everyone else, a big majority*, went with Council.


*Quite a small majority over the other two options combined, it turned out. A second vote would have been a serious nuisance!

[Roger de Coverly]

Everyone else, a big majority*, went with Council.

The BBC is reporting a continuing ban.

Checkmate for Russia as global chess ban upheld

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kjgxj40y1o

However

A majority of delegates in Budapest voted in favour of a motion to conduct consultations with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the possibility of lifting some restrictions against children and vulnerable groups.

The opinion of the ECF's new head is reported.

Malcolm Pein, head of the English Chess Federation, told the BBC the result was a “crushing defeat” for Russia.

“There is no doubt that many delegates feared consequences for the governing body’s relationship with the IOC if policy diverged,” he said.

[Gerard Killoran]

A triumph for hypocrisy!

[Keith Arkell]

I'm full of admiration for Magnus Carlsen completing his acceptance speech for the award of 'Greatest player of all Time' with his recommendation to not allow the Russian and Belarus Federations back in.

His modesty in continuing to argue Kasparov's case also didn't go unnoticed.

[Gerard Killoran]

Did Magnus have anything to say about Israel?

[Paul Cooksey]

Did Magnus have anything to say about Israel?

I linked his speech above. I suppose Gerard is obliquely asking the question that Angus did in the Olympiad thread

You might ask if Russia is banned from FIDE events, why not Israel? Instead the talk seems to be of sanctions against Iran for refusing to play.

I was surprised that Russia did not have more influence, based on the limited opposition to Dvorkovich as President. It seems to me the IOC position is important.

There is quite a lot of online coverage on Israel's participation in the Paris Olympics. Looking at, for example, IOC Head statement it seems to me more surprising that the IOC bans Russia that does not ban Israel . The IOC does not want to take a position on many of the factors that those in favour of bans consider important.