For subscribers
News analysis
Chess ban is an open wound for Russia
Imposing sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine has been a cat-and-mouse game. Yet, few matter like this one.
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Chess is serious business in Russia, the writer says. More than a national pastime, it is the sport the country truly excels in.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SINGAPORE – A geopolitical game unfolded on Sept 22 as Russia and Ukraine jostled over a proposal to lift sanctions on Russian participation – in international chess competitions.
The winner? Kyiv, which successfully maintained the ban on Russian chess by the International Chess Federation (Fide), in place since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
