Sergey Karjakin
was born in 1990 in
Simferopol
, on the
Crimean Peninsula
, one of the most turbulent areas of
Eastern Europe in
recent decades.
He was the focus of tension between
Ukraine and Russia
since the fall of the
USSR
and until the 2014 annexation by the government of
Vladimir Putin
.
In this process, Karjakin grew up,
an Orthodox Christian
, with Russian feelings since he was aware, a citizen of Russia since 2009, when he achieved nationality thanks to President
Dmitri Medvedev
;
married to a Ukrainian first and to the secretary of the Russian Chess Federation later;
Board prodigy
, grandmaster at age
12
and world champion contender in 2016, when he lost to
Magnus Carlsen
.
In such a situation, with the eternal tensions in his hometown, sports and politics have never been separated in Karjakin's life.
All that Russian sentiment, and the money from the country's large corporations (
Gazprom, Alpari Forex
...), has led to the decision of the International Chess Federation, which this week has sanctioned him without being able to compete for the next six months for
support the invasion of Ukraine
.
He will not play the
Chess Olympiad
or the
Candidates Tournament
, which will be held next June in
Madrid
and from which Carlsen's rival for the world title will emerge.
"When Karjakin's sanction is firm, he will be replaced according to FIDE regulations by an athlete of more or less the same category. That
will not affect the very high sporting level
of this event,"
Javier Ochoa
, president of the Spanish Chess Federation, organizer of the test.
"
I am a patriot, that first
. And then I am an athlete. The decision was waiting for me. Between supporting my country and participating in the Candidates Tournament, I would always choose the first", admitted the chess player.
His sentiments are summed up on his social networks, not surprising for someone who already supported the annexation of Crimea in 2014. "
I am on the side of Russia and my president
. I don't care what happens, I will support my country in any situation".
The "traitor" Dvorkovich
The invasion of Ukraine has been a major blow to world chess.
Russia is the great power of the sport, Gazprom was an official sponsor of many events and some of its stars are from the country.
But no one is under as much pressure right now as
Arkady Dvorkovich
, born in Moscow
49 years ago
, a member of the
governments of Putin (he was his adviser) and Medvedev
, with whom he served as Deputy Prime Minister between 2012 and 2018 and, for four years, president
of the International
Chess Federation (FIDE) who has decided to sanction Karjakin.
Two Russians facing each other.
The son of an international chess referee, Dvorkovich was also the
president of the Organizing Committee of the
2018 World Cup, a position after which he became the highest leader in world chess.
Putin was there to praise him.
His presence has been key for FIDE to continue receiving Russian money (
Gazprom, PhosAgro, Nomickel
...) during these years, but he has not wavered in
sanctioning athletes, organizations and companies from his country
after break out war.
And more importantly, to
turn their backs on Putin
.
This week he resigned as president of the
Skolkovo Foundation
, an innovation and technology center they call 'Russian Silicon Valley', after Andrei Turchak, secretary of 'United Russia' accused him of "
national treason
" by criticizing the invasion from Ukraine.
"My thoughts are with the
Ukrainian civilians
. The war not only takes away lives, it also takes away aspirations and hopes," he assured the magazine '
Mother Jones
', in comments that he made up for in a statement on the foundation's website, confessing "
proud
" of the courage of Russian soldiers.
Dvorkovich chaired the FIDE council in which the venue of the Chess Olympiad, which was to be held in Russia, was changed.
"It's my decision and FIDE's decision," he clarified.
The federation's board of directors, made up mostly of
representatives from non-Russian Eastern European countries
, didn't leave him much choice either.
"He has not broken contracts or canceled events. It has been the executive committee that he chairs.
The decision has been made by everyone
, as it should be," explains Ochoa, president of the Spanish company.
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