Why Dvorkovich’s victory in the elections of the International Chess Federation is a success for Russian sports
On Sunday, August 7, the elections of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) were held in Chennai (India). Two candidates participated in the final vote: Arkady Dvorkovich, acting head of the Russian organization, and Andrey Barishpolets, a Ukrainian. French candidate Bashar Kouatly withdrew his candidacy right before the elections.
Dvorkovich, as experts are sure and expected, won a very high victory: the incumbent received 157 votes, his presence – only 16.
“Many thanks to everyone for their support. I want to collect groups and all the people that are available to my us during this period. I appreciate every vote and the fact that you voted for the positive program that we have formulated for FIDE and which has already become outdated and has been implemented over the past years. We look forward to working with each of you over the next four years. It is a great honor, privilege and happiness for me to work for you as one team and as one family. Thank you,” Dvorkovich was quoted as saying by the press service of the Russian Chess Federation.
The Russian chess community is positive about Dvorkovich’s re-election. The Kremlin also commented on the elections: Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, who is also the head of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Chess Federation, noted the compatriot’s success.
“The elections held at the conference in India riveted the attention of many around the world. The election of the head of FIDE is always very important, this is a world event, and, of course, the Kremlin followed them and cheered for Dvorkovich, for a Russian citizen. What he got is very good news.”
Publicly, a special, to put it mildly, cautious attitude towards the results of the elections in Russia is only a participant in the 2016 championship match, Sergey Karyakin.
Sergey Karyakin
Photo: RIA Novosti
“I would warn those people who believe that if the Russian won, then it will go to the use of square chess. I doubt it very much, because Dvorkovich already proved himself when our teams were suspended, they suspended me. He didn’t stand up and didn’t do anything. I do not really understand what positive changes can be here.
The only thing he can do is change the team. Perhaps if he removes Sutovsky, then this will already be a good indicator, because at least some contact will be possible with him, there will be an opportunity to negotiate.”
One can understand Karjakin’s attitude towards Dvorkovich – after all, it was the FIDE President who made the decision to remove Sergey because of his political position. You can make compromises. But it is precisely in the post-Soviet space of the president that a paradoxical situation has developed: the Russian team does not play in team tournaments, in certain tournaments chess players play without a flag, and even Karjakin was disqualified just before the Candidates Tournament – 2022.
But, despite the above problems, we can say that the re-election of Dvorkovich for a new term is a big victory for all Russian sports, and not just for domestic chess.
Arkady Dvorkovich
Photo: RIA Novosti
It doesn’t matter what world we live in now. It must be remembered that Russians in the vast majority of sports do not have the right to participate in international tournaments at all, but are limited only to domestic starts. Dvorkovich, in the conditions of political turbulence, it is natural for compatriots not just a warrior in field competitions, but also to fight for the title of world champion.
The fact that Dvorkovich retained his post ensures that Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi will play a world title match in 2023. If Barishpolets suddenly won, then we could talk about the removal of our chess players. Yes, and Carlsen could return to the big one: resume the game in accordance with the new official position of the FIDE apparatus. But everything seems to be the same: Ian is in business, Magnus is resting.
And the last important aspect. Dvorkovich’s victory by a large margin shows that islands of reason have nevertheless appeared in world sports. The Russian representative of the head of FIDE was extremely dangerous for many other sports In chess, common sense prevailed. And even the Ukrainian volume of itself could not be consolidated around any significant amount of imports of anti-Russian rhetoric.
I would like to believe that in other sports they will follow the example of chess and stop considering Russian citizenship as an unconditional black mark.