The following Open Letter was published by ChessBase.com:
Open letter by the participants of the Women World Championship of FIDE
We, the participants of the Women World Championship 2008, express our worry about the current dangerous situation near Cabardino-Balkaria. We think when there is such a tense situation, it is not expedient to hold such a high level tournament in that area. That’s why we kindly ask you to move this tournament to the safer place, which would be convenient for all the participants.
If you agree wth the above, please join us with signing this letter, and please send it to FIDE and to us (Maia Chiburdanidze, Lela Javakhishvili, Sopio Gvetadze, Nino Khurtsidze, Maia Lomineishvili, Sopiko Khukhashvili) by e-mail: wchampionship@yahoo.com
We do not have the email addresses of all participants and kindly ask you to send this message to other participants you know.
I was informed this past weekend that at least one of the U.S. players has withdrawn due to safety reason. I do really hope that this can be changed ASAP.
This is too bad. Maybe they can move to Crossville, TN 🙂
Why are all the georgian players asking for this?
In fact Russia is in war with Georgia, so it’s not a good place for Georgian.
In 2006 Russia did not send their players to the World Youth in Georgia.
The championship won’t get moved, but I can see at least some players boycoting the event.
I like cheese.
So who did withdraw? I talked to Irina Krush at her simul in New York last month, and she was very concerned about the security situation in Nalchik.
A champion is not concerned about danger! A champion laughs at peril and holds their chin high in the face of tyranny.
Did the Polgar sisters run from the Soviets during the Cold War?
No!
Stay the course, play the tournament and tell the world you will stand against oppression and war!
FIDE is about as useful as the CIS was for Georgia.
FIDE is a paper tiger with all talk and no action.
The event should be moved, Ecuador in the Pan Am Youth could not give assurances for the security of the chessplayers coming from other countries so Argentina bid for it. The same should happen here. Life over chess.
In recent years, repeatedly I find that FIDE holds major chess events in cities I have never heard of. Usually they are deep in southern russia or nearby, surrounded by civil wars, dictatorships, dangerous nationalistic conflicts, separatistic terrorism and other attractions like that.
It doesn’t have to be London or Paris all the time, if that is too expensive, but there are many other quality venues.
I am not sure what the message would be if the tournament was held. Georgia is facing a possible occupation of the country. No one knows what will be happening there in a few months. I dont think it was for security reasons that they (Georgian players)made the announcement. Rather to inform the world about the situatation there)
All cities had and have the opportunity to make a bid for one of FIDE competitions. The only problem is that they are not interested. So Kirsan and his friends have to step in. Thats why most championships are in Russia.
georgians are not welcome to Russia. you can thank your bloody maniak saakashvili
Who said that Georgians are not welcomed in Russia?
Are you representing Russia? What authority do you have and who gave it to you?
georgian government and its troops committed genocide against ethnic Ossetians killing 1600 people. saakashvili bloody maniak is responsable