Breaking News: FIDE stops the Candidates Tournament!

Radjabov is reportedly considering legal action against FIDE for the way he was treated by the organization vis-a-vis his request to postpone the tournament due to COVID-19. IIRC, under terms of national federation membership in FIDE and the rights of individual players, any legal action against FIDE must be brought before the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) which is based in Switzerland.

IMO, FIDE shoud swallow its false pride, admit it made a grevious error by proceeding with the tournament and start the event over from the beginning. As to VL, let him play and add one other player to round out the field.

Even if the tournament is continued as presently planned by FIDE, it is fairly clear that the stress of the pandemic had a negative effect on some players, likely Ding and possibly Caruana.

"... the entire chess community is crying out for the cancellation of this tournament ..."

What utter nonsense.

Whilst had the tournament been arranged in practically any other country than Russia (or perhaps the U.S. or North Korea, both with macho leaders as well), it would never have been kicked off --- consider this:

Chess has a history of continuing play no matter what. The 1939 Chess Olympics took place in Buenos Aires, situated in the only continent without a major involvement in WWII. The tournament was -- flawed, to put it mildly, but still it went on. It takes more than a world war to cancel.

This cancellation is not due to personal health considerations, but due to home travel issues as Russia is closing its air space. It was imposed on FIDE. Players could get stuck in Jekaterinburg limbo for months, if not a year, with a visit to the Zar Family Memorial site as daily high point. This kind of staying on happened in Argentina to a number of players, Najdorf probably the most celebrated of the ones staying for good.

The first half of the tournament has been great to follow, and nobody is out of the race yet. But my guess is a WC match in December will not materialize. It is going to take longer than that before things have normalized.

Great choice! Should have happened sooner.

I agree, people should speak for themselves, not others, and drop the self-righteous acts. These are unprecedented times.

@Petrosianic I suggest the top four now because time has been wasted. We're looking at three matches to pick the challenger. and then prepare to meet Carlsen in late December. It's just a time/format issue.

renzogm
Do not speak for 'entire chess community', you have no right to do that. I'm a chess player and fan myself and I disagree with your opinions. And I really hate when someone speaks for me.
I was in favor of playing the tournament and it is a pity that Russia closed the borders, but I'm on the site of FIDE here. And I'm definitely against including Radjabov in the Candidates, half-way through the tournament. That is just crazy.
So please, speake for yourself.

Finally and happily this circus is over! Russia's decision to close its borders ended by postponing a Candidates tournament that should never have started. How much lack of sensitivity and political sense on the part of Fide to avoid this embarrassment. Now? Well now I hope you hear the clamor of so many chess fans in the world and go out to apologize, cancel this tournament and have another one with Radjabov. And what do we do with MVL? Well two options, either get it out or include it but without taking out Radjabov because he and Vladimir Kramnik earned all the respect in the world by postponing their activities regarding the tournament. Vice President Martha Fierro, please, the entire chess community is crying out for the cancellation of this tournament, which should not have been played and whose level was clearly affected by the events occurring worldwide with respect to covid-19. Please President Arkady, let another Candidate be rescheduled from the start and with the inclusion of Radjabov, that is what the chess community is asking for. regards

Wow, what a mess. FIDE had an option to follow the whole world and postpone the tournament, players had an option to support Radjabov. There is no good solution anymore, the outcome of the tournament would be too much affected by non-chess factors. But it obviously doesn't matter, the only important outcome is to define challenger for world championship match, business has to follow up after the crisis .... the rest is just a matter of some negotiations and PR :-)

@RayLopez

LOL you can't be serious! wahhhh The rules are whoever plays the best and wins. I figured as a Chess fan you would understand that. wow lol still laughing..

@ChessSpawn. Continuing the tournament remotely, a la Fischer is not a bad idea. But why should 4 players be eliminated now? That would be silly, even if there weren't a 4-way tie for 3rd place now, and would surely result in lawsuits from the 4 eliminated prematurely.

I suggest that the top four players based on ratings have candidate matches to determine Carlsen's challenger. They can play online in their own safe (relatively) locations. There is precedent for this in the lower tech manner that Fischer played from NYC when he could not travel to Cuba. Also, the US pro Chess League conducted its matches online with no problems.

FIDE likely won't do this because some people will not be able to make as much money from the matches.

@Metaphysician Why important? In one word, "Money."

looks like Radjabov was more prescient than most, but we did have seven exciting rounds! Hooray MVL!

"It is not clear how Radjabov should be made whole now that FIDE has implicitly admitted its original mistake."

FIDE hasn't admitted any such thing. If you had read the article, you'd know that the postponement is based on NEW developments, not on a new interpretation of old ones. So, what you said about both Radjabov and Dvorkovich was wrong.

I feel sorry for all the players, who have been under tremendous stress (apart from the usual stress) during the Candidates.
Can anyone please explain why it was so important to FIDE to try to hold the Candidates despite the pandemic?

The tournament should have been declared null and void. As far as what happens in the future that should be determined in the future because the sad fact of the matter is that one, or some, of the participants may not be alive in the aftermath of the COVID-19 devastation. In addition, there is the question of whether or not Chess will survive in the future. People of the future may have much more important things, such as survival, to consider.

What will become of Radjabov in this? Just another massive injustice, or will FIDE make amends? While I would like to believe FIDE will try to make amends, my bet is they will ignore it and say they did the right thing each step of the way, and are not at fault. Personally, I would support seeding him into the 2022 Candidates.

If Dvorkovitch has any common decency left, he and his oligarch friends will charter private jets to take all of the competitors, their support people and journalists back to their home countries.

Of course other international sporting events, Judo IIRC, also cancelled without having their competitors travel to the same city. But, Putin's man who heads FIDE knew better. And what about Radjabov? FIDE needs to be disbanded and a new organization created that will work for the interests of chess and not those looking to make their living on the backs of the workers---the chess players.

Tragic as this health crisis is, the looming worldwide economic collapse may present opportunities to create a more sane and just world by the survivors. In the meantime, self-isolate and try to survive.

Radjabov right, FIDE wrong. The tournament should never have been held. But FIDE went ahead despite the recommendations of WHO, health experts, and government leaders around the world, and the actions of other sport organizations. Not to mention common sense. Originally unfair to Radjabov. Now unfair to all the participants.

Dvorkovich should resign over his horrible blunder. But of course he will not.

It is not clear how Radjabov should be made whole now that FIDE has implicitly admitted its original mistake. A letter of apology from FIDE would be a start. But of course that will not happen.

Obviously Radjabov should automatically be seeded into the next cycle of the Candidates Tournament. There does not seem to be a practical way to re-enter him into the current tournament, but that would be the fairest solution. I could imagine a series of games with the other participants online to make up for the rounds he has missed, prior to the resumption of a live tournament, but that seems impossible to arrange. Lacking that, monetary damages of half the World Championship Match purse would seem to be a good starting point in a legal settlement.

As for Mr. Dvorkovich, he can count himself lucky that the virus did not break out at the event during the rounds that were held. But of course we have another two weeks of incubation time before we can be sure.

Finally! And Radjabov - who was 100% right - deserves appropriate financial compensation from FIDE.

The right decision gets made at last. I still can’t believe how naïve FIDE could be to think that they would be able to successfully run and complete such an important chess tournament when all other major sporting events we’re being cancelled and delayed across the world.

They shouldn't have started this tournament for sure.
A great disadvantage for Radjabov who didn't start this tournament exactly because of the Corona crisi.
A disadvatgae during the tournament for Caruana and Giri who asked themselves frequently if they would get home. And as I can imagine couldn't play at their best.
A disadvantage for the man inform MVL
A disadvantage for the other leader Nepomniachtchi , losing the last game and now no chance to bounce back the next round.
Who would say how Ding, Wang and Alekseenko whre feeling during this tournament. At least Ding played way under his strenght.

Ik would say cancel the whole tournament and restart again with 9 players ( inculding Radjabov) or even find another 10th player to make it even. This would be very unfair for Nepo and MVL, but more fair to the other 7 players ( incl Radjabov)

I am in favor of this FIDE move, but I feel the tournament should be restarted to allow Caruana and Ding Liren a chance to do better. I'm serious, please no flames. I want the two strongest players to challenge Carlsen, and that would be either Caruana or Ding Liren (maybe MVL too).

Best move of the tournament.
We are on board of the global ship.
Thank you FIDE

Nothing has changed within FIDE. Everybody saw this one coming from miles ahead except FIDE. Well done!

Go MVL, Nepo, Caruana, Giri, Grischuk, and Wang! Simply put, everyone with an even score or better has practical chances to win the Candidates and play for the FIDE World Chess Champion title.

Apologies to Ding and Alekseenko!

Apologies and financial compensation to Radjabov because he was cheated and treated unfairly! A minimum of the 8th place prize should be awarded to Radjabov.

@Stupido Right. And Radjabov looks like the 'dindon de la farce' as we say in french...

Understandable but very detrimental to the sport. Incidentally this decision validates Radjabov's point of view without allowing him to participate.