Supporting The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine, Chess Player Karjakin Sentenced To 6 Months Ban From Competing

Sergey Karjakin (Instagram @sergey_arjakin)

JAKARTA - Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin has been banned from competing for six months for comments in support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) said Monday.

The 32-year-old Karjakin, who challenged Magnus Carlsen for the 2016 world title, has defended his country's actions on social media in recent weeks, drawing strong criticism from the chess world.

"Sergey Karjakin was found guilty of violating article 2.2.10 of the FIDE Code of Conduct, and was sentenced to a six-month worldwide ban from participating as a player in a FIDE rated chess competition, effective from the date it was decided, 21 March 2022," the parent organization said in a statement. as quoted by Antara from Reuters, Tuesday.

"Statements from Sergey Karjakin regarding the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine have caused a large number of reactions on social media and elsewhere, mostly negative to the opinions expressed."

Karjakin, who was born in Crimea and represented Ukraine until 2009, said: "As expected, but no less humiliating than FIDE. All sporting options have been trampled on, the basic principle that sport outside of politics has been trampled on."

The ban puts Karjakin's participation in the Candidate Tournament, which starts on June 16, in doubt. He can appeal the decision within 21 days.

"I made the toughest selection through the World Cup in the Candidate Tournament. Winning that would put me in the match for the world championship. Unfortunately, FIDE embarrassed themselves, not me," Karjakin added on Telegram.

"And most importantly, first of all, I am a patriot of my country and secondly I am an athlete. If I think back to the situation when I supported the Russian president, his people, and his army, I will do just that. The same thing! I have no regrets." any."

Another Russian grandmaster, Sergei Shipov, was not sanctioned for his pro-Russian comments because FIDE ruled that they were "a little different in character and less provocative than Karjakin's".

FIDE previously stripped the hosts of the Moscow Chess Olympiad and the FIDE Congress later this year and barred Russian and Belarusian players from competing in tournaments under their respective flags.

Belarus has become a major staging area for Russian troops.