Player accused of poisoning opponent with mercury

by ChessBase
8/7/2024 – This is really taking thing too far. At the Dagestan Chess Championship one participant tried to poison a specific opponent by smearing mercury on her board. The substance was noticed and the arbiter called the police. The placing of the poison was caught on surveillance video, and the perpetrator has admitted to the deed. She said she had acted to get revenge on the player, whom she has known since childhood, bur who had "seriously offended her."

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14:05, 7 August 2024
Source: Baza Telegram site. Original report in Russian at the bottom of the page.

The Russian Chess Federation (RCF) announced that it had temporarily suspended Dagestani chess player Amina Abakarova from participating in all competitions, according to media reports, after she spilled mercury near her opponent's board at a tournament in Makhachkala. The corresponding statement appeared on the federation's Telegram channel on the afternoon of August 7.

The first to report the incident that occurred at the Dagestan Chess Championship on August 2 was the Baza Telegram channel (report in Russian at the bottom of the page). According to the video from a surveillance camera published by the publication, 40-year-old Amina Abakarova studied the list of participants and then poured mercury next to the chessboard of one of her opponents. Another participant, European champion Umayganat Osmanova, was supposed to sit at this table.

YouTube video by GMC. It was recorded before the start of the round and showed Abakarova studying the list of participants, then going to a specific table and pouring out something next to the board. After that, she spread the liquid on the table with a chess piece.

The mercury was noticed almost immediately. Osmanova and other chess players started running and shouting about the poisonous substance. The referee took control of the situation: he collected the mercury in a bag and called the police. At the same time, the organizers of the competition checked the surveillance cameras and saw Amina Abakarova pouring the mercury. Abakarova told the other players that she had wanted to get revenge –allegedly Umayganat Osmanova had somehow seriously offended her.

At the end of July, Abakarova and Osmanova met in the final of the tournament in Makhachkala. Both chess players scored the same number of points, but the victory was awarded to Osmanova, based on additional factors. This defeat was probably one of the reasons why Amina decided to poison her opponent.

According to Baza's sources, Abakarova and Osmanova have known each other since childhood and have always been competitors at the regional level. Amina's friends were very surprised by her actions. The girl is described, among other things, as a good, kind children's coach.

After the poisoning, Osmanova continued to participate in the tournament and won a prize. The girl's relatives do not intend to forgive Abakarova and want her to receive the maximum punishment.

Original Baza Report

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lajosarpad lajosarpad 8/12/2024 01:47
It is poisonous in dental amalgam fillings too, see https://www.toothbythelake.net/wellness-center/amalgam-fillings/symptoms-of-chronic-mercury-toxicity/

Mercury in every known form is poisonous, see https://scdhec.gov/environment/your-home/mercury/health-risks-mercury

If she was to sit at a distant board from her victim, then the poison might not reach her. What I find disturbing is that the sensitivity of a person has reached to this.
chessdrummer chessdrummer 8/11/2024 03:46
This would land her in an assault charge or premeditated with intent to do bodily harm. She must know that mercury is poisonous, but may not know how. Many of us have it in our dental amalgam fillings.
BKnight2003 BKnight2003 8/10/2024 03:36
Frits is right. He wasn't even near of "specifying which substance is more effective and less detectable" or "providing full instructions on how to best administer it".

Frederic's comment could be justified if "to everyone", but was completely inapropriate "to Frits Fritschy".
Frits Fritschy Frits Fritschy 8/10/2024 01:35
I don't want an endless discussion on this. However, saying that a substance is not working is not the same as saying how people could be smarter. And it is certainly not an indication about my willingness to provide information and 'full instructions' on other substances. And I don't like other people to be led to think I would.
lajosarpad lajosarpad 8/10/2024 12:25
Frits Fritschy, I believe you missed the point Herr Friedel was making. Nobody suggested that you would want to do anything like that and I certainly do not think so after reading your comments for years (especially at the times when we had more opportunities to comment on Chessbase). The issue is that if you describe what mistakes she made and how she could have been smarter and reduced the risk of being poisoned herself too or caught, then some psychos visiting this site and reading your comment would use your ideas in the planning of their plot. So Herr Friedel was right here and I applaud that he did not remove your comment out of respect for free speech, even though in this case, due to the risk of harm he would have had a valid case to do so. If you think this through, then I believe you will reach the conclusion that it's better to remove your comment about the substances, even though you had good intent while writing it, just to make sure that nutjobs will not use it to improve their plot.
arzi arzi 8/9/2024 02:31
Wiki:"Mercury is used in mining, batteries, dentures, and heat and pressure gauges. However, it is a toxic heavy metal, meaning its medical effects are harmful to humans. Especially as a vapor it is dangerous. Due to its toxicity, efforts are being made to replace the use of mercury with other solutions and, for example, its use in thermometers is prohibited in some countries."

I wouldn't ingest or eat it, would you FF? If you would not ingest mercury yourself, would it be worthwhile for you NOT to give instructions on ingesting the substance? As I recall, the first emperor of China died from the toxic effects of mercury. Of course, the amounts he used were not very normal. But what is normal these days? Abnormal?
Frits Fritschy Frits Fritschy 8/9/2024 12:21
Frederic, you seem to suggest that I might be willing to do such a thing. As I did not, you had no reason to do so.

This was the action of a disturbed mind, but it shouldn't be blown up out of proportion. That she put herself at the risk of inhaling the vapors, shows she had no idea what she was doing. But mercury can be touched (and even ingested) without serious consequences.
Frederic Frederic 8/9/2024 12:01
Frits Fritschy, you will NOT specify which substance is more effective and less detectable. And NOT provide full instructions on how to best administer it.
arzi arzi 8/9/2024 09:54
Mercury, arsenic, whatever poison is used, proves that a man/woman will do anything for his/her own gain or to degrade the skill of his/her opponent. Man/woman is a beast among men/women. Shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Watch the TV or read the newspapers and you will see that.
Green22 Green22 8/9/2024 12:36
What a scumbag! "who had "seriously offended her." this planet is doomed with all these entitled mental head cases. We can only pray that Good prevails over evil.
Frits Fritschy Frits Fritschy 8/8/2024 05:06
Mercury wouldn't be my poison of choice. As it is the vapor that can cause harm, it might affect me as well. And it is quite visible. Moreover, applying the stuff would put me at at least the same hazard (which is neither to be under- or overestimated).
renzogm renzogm 8/8/2024 03:32
Really?
arzi arzi 8/8/2024 12:40
That is a completely natural struggle for existence, in chess. All means are accepted. The main thing is to win, to be the best of all. Yippee! Eat or be eaten.
lajosarpad lajosarpad 8/8/2024 09:27
Badmouthing her was the reason for the attempt... I always thought that we should try to be nice to each-other, but being poisoned with mercury for failing to do so never occurred to me.
WillScarlett WillScarlett 8/8/2024 04:23
Well, it's not as if she misgendered her friend, or didn't use the correct pronouns.
brian8871 brian8871 8/8/2024 03:01
This is crazy! Remember when the worst thing you could be accused of at a chess match was receiving outside assistance? Now we've jumped up to attempted homicide with a chemical agent
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