– There is no doubt that I am disappointed by it. Chess player and Magnus Carlsen coach, Peter Heine Nielsen, is deeply concerned before the presidential election in the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on 7 August. Earlier this year, it became known that the Russian Fide president Arkady Dvorkovich is running for re-election as the supreme leader of Fide. If the election goes the Russian’s way, he gets a Norwegian on the team. Former president of the Norwegian Chess Federation Jøran Aulin-Jansson has agreed to be vice-president for Dvorkovic. That makes Danish Heine Nielsen shake her head. He is disappointed by the choice of the Norwegian. – I think it is wrong for him to do that. I understand when Jøran says that it will be good for chess, but I disagree. There are a: things that are bigger than chess, and b: it is not good for chess because the world is against Russia, he says to news. SKEPTICAL: Heine Nielsen wants a new president of FIDE. Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB Controversial Heine Nielsen’s disappointment stems from the Fide president’s controversial background. The 50-year-old from Moscow held key positions in Russian politics for two decades. Until 2018, Dvorkovich was deputy prime minister in Russia under the government of Putin-friendly Dmitry Medvedev. – It is not Dvorkovich as a person, but it is his past and representation of the Russian government. He has been a spokesperson for Russia on several occasions on the international stage, says Heine Nielsen. The chess profiler is clear that he does not want Dvorkovich to be re-elected, precisely because of his past and the Russians’ warfare against Ukraine. – He has made the chess world more Russia-centric. With what we know now, this should be changed. There should be no ties to Russia. Heine Nielsen is standing as deputy for the Ukrainian Fide presidential candidate Andrii Baryshpolets in the upcoming election. GREETINGS: Magnus Carlsen recently announced that he will not compete in next year’s World Chess Championship. Dvorkovitch has admitted that it is a hard blow for chess. Photo: Nina Eirin Rangøy / NTB Nice criticism – I spent some time thinking about it. It is not entirely without controversy to put together a Russian in these times. After checking with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other people who knew about Russia, I decided to stand, says Aulin-Jansson to news. It was in April that the former chess president heard about the interest from Dvorkovitch. After a longer period of reflection, he decided to agree to be one of two vice-presidents under the Russian. VG mentioned the news in May. CANDIDATE: Aulin-Jansson is currently in India before the presidential election. Photo: Berit Roald / NTB Aulin-Jansson pays tribute to the current president and justifies the Dvorkovich support by saying that it is the best thing for chess now. At the same time, he is clear that the choice has not been easy. – Of course I was thinking about the cruel war that the Russians are waging against Ukraine now. It’s a crossword puzzle. I guess I came to the conclusion that sacrificing Fide would not make the world a better place, for Ukrainians or others. – Do you understand that people are critical of the election? – I have. Absolutely, he says and adds: – Now he (Dvorkovich) quit politics in 2018 and so absolutely does not support the war. DISCUSSING: Dvorkovich and Russian President Vladimir Putin in discussion during a meeting in Volgograd in 2016. Photo: Alexei Nikolsky / AP – Thinks it is right Dvorkovich has previously been critical of the war in Ukraine. “War kills hope and ambition, and stops or destroys relationships and cohesion”, he has previously stated. Despite the statements, Heine Nielsen is critical of the Russian and the decision of Aulin-Jansson – who disagrees with the criticism from the Dane. – I understand that Peter is disappointed when he has the opinions he has. That is absolutely “fair enough”. We don’t have to agree on everything. I like Peter, and think he is one of the world’s best coaches. But politically we are probably not quite in the same boat, at least not in this case, says the Norwegian. – But you understand the criticism? – I understand that. Despite that, I believe that it is still the right thing to do. So I’m responsible for it, he replies.
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