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32 players were supposed to play the third round of the FIDE World Cup 2017 at 3 p.m. in Hualing Hotel, Tbilisi. However, when the clocks started, one of them was missing. That person was Anton Kovalyov. Anton was up against Maxim Rodshtein. And Anton didn't turn up even after 15 minutes of forfeit time had passed which gave his opponent the full point.
Canadian-Russian GM Anton Kovalyov is playing the tournament of his life. In round one he beat Varuzhan Akobian 1.5-0.5 and in round two he beat five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand with the same score. |Amruta Mokal
Anton's scorecard from the official website (click to expand)
Anton came to the playing hall a few minutes before the stipulated start at 3.p.m.
Anton came dressed in the same shorts that he had worn against Akobian in round one and Anand in round two. This picture was taken eleven minutes before the game was due to begin. (photo by Amruta Mokal)
ECU President Zurab Azmaiparashvili noticed that Anton was dressed in shorts and asked him to adhere to the players' contract which mentions the point related to the dress code:
3. 13. 4. Players are requested to note the requirements of FIDE Regulations C.01 (Article 8.1) in respect of their dignified appearance at all times during the World Cup.
C.01 (Article 8.1) of the FIDE handbook mentions the following:
The Commission on Chess Publication, Information and Statistics (CHIPS) stresses the need for all chess players to take more care in their personal appearance. The image of the chess player should be a dignified one, and dressing properly would not only show respect for the game, but also to sponsors, potential or otherwise, to make it worth their while to spend their money.
For example, some federations have barred slippers, sleeveless T-shirts and vests in their tournaments. Those with unkempt and greasy hair should be admonished, as well as those wearing old or torn jeans and battered attire generally.
Anton Kovalyov left the playing hall and did not return for the game. Rodshtein made the move 1.d4, 15 minutes passed and Kovalyov is not to be seen. |Amruta Mokal
Arbiter Arild Rimestad stops the clock |Amruta Mokal
1-0. Anton Kovalyov forfeits the game. |Amruta Mokal
Maxim Rodshtein would not have expected the game to end so soon! |Amruta Mokal
After the incident, we got in touch with Zurab Azmaiparashvili, who clarified the situation in the following video:
ECU President Zurab Azmaiprashvili talks about the shorts incident
Chief arbiter Tomasz Delega speaks about the shorts incident
The chief arbiter also clarified that it was he who spoke to Anton first and later Zurab Azmaiparashvili.
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Meanwhile an enraged Anton Kovalyov left the hotel and also the tournament
When asked for a comment, Kovalyov said that he was too angry and didn't wish to go on record. He has booked his flight and has left the venue.
In the evening Kovalyov updated his Facebook Status and speaks about this incident:
"I wanted to wait a little till I calm down, but I'm tired of seeing lies everywhere. So here's what happened:
The issue were not the shorts but how I was treated. I came to the game and was approached by the arbiter asking me to change (first time). I told him that I don't have pants with me, and then I noticed that I was playing black instead of white, which came as a surprise for me and asked him to check that. He and the other arbiters checked and confirmed to me that I'm playing with black, we talked a little and everything was fine. Then came Zurab, he was very agressive, yelling at me and using the racial slur "gypsy" to insult me, apart from mentioning several times that I will be punished by FIDE. I told him that I had asked before at the previous world cup if what I was wearing was OK and I was told by somebody from the organization that yes. Zurab, in a prepotent way, said he doesn't care, he's the organizer now. At this point I was really angry but tried not to do anything stupid, and asked him why he was so rude to me, and he said because I'm a gypsy.
So imagine this, the round is about to start, I'm being bullied by the organizer of the tournament, being assured that I will be punished by FIDE, yelled at and racially insulted. What would you do in my situation? I think many people would have punched this person in the face or at least insulted him. I decided to leave.
Worth pointing out, I didn't take any pants with me because I gained some weight and they were to tight. If the organization of the tournament would have warned me sooner I would have taken a cab to the mall and bought pants, without any problems whatsoever, but instead I was treated like garbage. I was too stressed out by the way I was treated and the threats of being punished by FIDE no matter what I do, so I choose to leave before I do anything stupid. Another point worth pointing out, Zurab never asked me to go and change, the conversation consisted of threats, insults, and agressive behavior from Zurab. He was clearly provoking me. I will not appeal anything. I am disgusted by this type of people. I don't want the money. I'm coming back home."
Interview with Anton Kovalyov after he beat Vishy Anand in round 2.1
Anton Kovalyov on advancing to round three
It's not easy to be a chessplayer, but every chessplayer knows a rule:"Gens una sumus". Unfortunally every organizer knows"money" rule and all they say it's for us. This is the world of today. But in time young chessplayers will change that. This is the case!
1. FIDE rules actually allow Bermuda shorts to be worn as acceptable attire.
2. Kovalyov wore Bermuda shorts his first 4 games without any comment, complaint etc.
3. Nothing was said to him about his attire until moments before his 5th game at which point he was threatened with financial penalty for wearing the very same Bermuda shorts he'd worn the previous games.
4. He reportedly had no other lower body clothing with him.
No wonder he didn't return. What a goon show! FIDE shoots itself in the foot once again. Azmaiparashvili comes off looking like a clown. It would be nice if Kovalyov's chess federation intervened on his behalf, not that FIDE would do anything or admit the error. Kovalyov will no doubt choose to concentrate his efforts on his computer science studies after this experience with a world class FIDE event and we lose another young rising chess talent.
In my opinion, the dress code is certainly debatable (does not Ivanchuk wear a sporting attire?!) but send somebody away without warning in round 3 when he dressed similarly in rounds 1 and 2 is absolutely arbitrary and ridiculous.
This is the kind of thing that might make Kovalyov give up professional chess and concentrate on his studies.
Here is the proposal for FIDE dress code by the FIDE Vice President, Ms. Beatriz Marinello, clearly stating BERMUDA SHORTS ARE OK:
3a The following is acceptable for men players, captains, head of delegation.
Suits, ties, dressy pants, trousers, jeans, long-sleeve or shirt-sleeve dress shirt, dress shirt, alternatively T-shirts or polo, dress shoes, loafers or dressy slip-ons, socks, shoes or sneakers, sport coat, blazer, Bermuda shorts, turtleneck, jacket, vest or sweater. Team uniforms and national costumes clothing.
IMHO, Chess is an aristocratic game and one should respect it and dress accordingly. If I were a Sponsor, I would like my brand to be associated with class, beauty, quality and harmony. Sorry to use these words, but not with a Funk party like ambiance. In resume, IMHO, FIDE acted perfectly.
28°C, Wind S at 13 km/h, 38% Humidity
yes, what a bad decision to wear shorts at these temperatures lol
On the other hand I do not know why Mr Kovalyov didn't show up. I hope he had another pair of trousers in his suitcase. After all, regarding his extraordinary success so far it seem exaggerated to punish him for the dress code with a loss of a crucial game.
correct would have been this: FIRST round ask the guy politely AFTER the game to please wear long trousers according to silly rule the next round. nobody gets hurt by him wearing shorts at the table.
problem solved. INSTEAD they ask him to change (maybe he ONLY has this shorts and would have needed to buy long trousers) FIVE minutes before super important game. especially annoying as he has been playing like this the last two rounds.
arbiter should get fired for ruining this chess tournament for this young man.
if you have a dress code - this should be enforced sensibly from tournament day one. not like this.
no other sports, like esports and backgammon etc has stupid dresscode like this. chess is being played by people of all cultures and ages. to implement a dress code like this is stupid in the first place. if you play in some superhumid place and have to wear long trousers it is super insensible. you can not compare chess to snooker. snooker is an old english sport that has been played in clubs for a long time and thus their dress code makes sense. chess never had a similar dress code and it is not sensible to enforce something like this. in fact i remember playing chess when smoking was still allowed which was terrible.
but like i said the main culprit is the arbiter who apparently handled the situation very badly. he should have informed the player at the end of the last round to wear other trousers and should have allowed him to play a last time like this and be able to buy trousers after the end of the round.
Note, what one person thinks as appropriate dressing is absolutely personal and subjective. It's the officials who should handle this matter amicably so no one gets offended.
Unfortunately, this is organisational failure here. Wish some common sense prevailed.