– Why should we talk? It would be a breach of the rules if I contacted her to discuss politics. That’s what Carlsen coach Peter Heine Nielsen says to news. The Dane is talking about the star player Valentina Gunina, who recently came out on top in the major tournament Global Chess League in London. SUCCESS COACH: Peter Heine Nielsen. Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB In the aftermath of the triumph, the Russian star has come out harshly against Nielsen in the Sport Express newspaper. – Wanted to discuss face to face Here she says that Nielsen “didn’t behave” when he wrote on social media that she should not be allowed to participate in international tournaments, among other things because she had received an award from Russian authorities. – I wanted to discuss this face to face, but he looked away and avoided me in every possible way. You could say he acted like a coward. This obviously doesn’t make him look good, she says to Sport Express. Nielsen reckons that there are around 20-30 people in the gaming room between rounds. He thinks it was not the time and place to discuss politics. – I have no right to disturb an opponent before a round of same how disagreeable I am. I am there as Magnus’s trainer, I have no right to abuse that personally, says Nielsen. WITH ELITE POLITICIANS: Valentina Gunina pictured here with Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister for Tourism, Sports, Culture and Communications, in July this year. Photo: Tass / SipaUSA – Tried to avoid contact The Carlsen coach has himself shared the Sport Express article with his close 27,000 followers on X. Since the invasion of Ukraine, he has been crystal clear that Russian players, who he believes are being used in propaganda or support the invasion, must be sanctioned by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Nielsen is clear that Gunina should never have been allowed to play the tournament in London. – She claims that you “saw another way and avoided her”. Is that also your experience of this? – Yes. I think it is unreasonable that players who play in Karjakin’s tournaments and take pictures with soldiers in uniform are present. So I tried to avoid contact, replies Nielsen. Hits back hard Former WC contender Sergej Karjakin has become a very controversial man after making a series of statements of support for Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine. He has been to the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine several times. Karjakin is therefore rarely invited to tournaments in the West and instead has several tournaments on Russian soil. In March, Nielsen shared a photo on X of Gunina taken in connection with a party against Karjakin during a youth festival in Sochi. In August, he posted a photo of Gunina posing with a woman in military uniform – among other things. CONTROVERSY: Sergej Karjakin has received a lot of criticism from the West after his many declarations of support for the invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Jørund Wessel Carlsen / news – She calls you a coward. What do you think about it? – That it doesn’t make sense. I behave properly when I’m at a tournament, even if I don’t think she should be there, replies Nielsen. Although he is clear that he avoided Gunina, he claims that the Russian blitz world champion never came over to talk to him. – I would very much like to discuss it with her. Preferably in public. The same applies to Karjakin, Emil Sutovsky (vice-president of Fide), Arkady Dvorkovich (president of Fide). It’s not me who says no, he says. Published 18.10.2024, at 06.58 Updated 18.10.2024, at 09.20
ttn-69
Skuldar the Carlsen coach for ignoring her – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
