Putin to Go to Carlsen’s World Cup Match
17.10.2014 – Oslo
Dagbladet has confirmed that Russian president Vladimir Putin will watch Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen’s World Cup match against Vishy Anand in Sochi between 7 – 28 November.
Ukraine crisis has caused a number of sanctions against Russia from the EU and Norway. In this tense political atmosphere, the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has declined to World Cup invitation of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
It is likely that Putin will take the first move of the match starting on November 8.
Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet previously asked chess phenomenon whether he would shake hands with Putin.
Carlsen said he would not be there to cause trouble. Also Carlsen’s manager Espen Agdestein said they would like to focus on sport not politics.
– We are in contact with the Foreign Ministry and the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow to discuss the kind of thing. Magnus is there to play a chess match and not do politics. I think he will behave normally in terms of the regular procedure, said Agdestein.
It was previously speculated that Carlsen initially did not want to be photographed with Putin, after western sponsors do not want to be associated with the Russian President.
Full article here.
Will Kasparov be there?
No.