ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024
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ChessBase is not into politics and it does not pass judgment on governments and nation states. But then, above politics there is humanity.
A tragedy has unfolded in Ukraine. The stories of suffering, loss and death therein have left us numb. Amidst the grief and misery there are also tales of courage, kindness and hope. So, all is not lost for humanity. Meanwhile many of us have asked the same question, “What about our friends, chess players in Ukraine? Where are they? What has happened to them?” That is not easy to know. Lines of communication are cut and, more importantly, many are on the move, seeking safety for their families even as they have become refugees in neighbouring lands. Others are fighting on the front, when they are defending their homes, street after street.
All the more reason why we have to find our friends and tell them, “You are not alone. We are with you.” To speak those words to them, we need to know where they are and if they are safe. So this is an earnest appeal to readers to offer information through the Comments column here.
Some of you may wonder, “There are so many of them, GMs, IMs, not to mention organizers, coaches and their wards. How can we reach them all?” That’s right. Let us start with some well-known names, and then the circle can widen to include as many chess players in Ukraine as possible.
Here is a tentative list:
(sorry, many good players are not yet on the list)
GM Oleksandr Sulypa has become the symbol of resistance. He serves in the army.
As of now, I have yet to receive any news of Vasyl Ivanchuk, Anton Korobov, Andrei Volotkin, Anna Ushenina and Irina Gaponenko among others.
It is here that I bank on the goodwill of readers here. Do share your information on these grandmasters and other players here.
One word of caution: Do not mention contact numbers and addresses of players in distress here. It would compromise their safety and security.
Among others both the French Chess Federation and European Chess Union have offered assistance to players in need of help. They are two possible avenues to send such confidential information.
At the social media end Pavel Eljanov, Oleksandr Prohorov, and Natalia Zhukova are active and they do offer helpful information. The Ukraine Chess Federation has barely survived and still made a brave attempt to stand by its members.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all individuals and institutions offering help to our Ukrainian friends. Remember that there are about one million refugees from Ukraine and chess players there are a very small community scattered by the winds of war. How and where they can be found is only the first of the challenges. It would take a lot more to help them to rebuild their lives.
The chess world owes a debt to Ukraine for nurturing great minds from Boleslavsky to Ivanchuk. Here is one way of repaying the same.
GENS UNA SUMUS