The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has suspended Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin for six months after he publicly supported Vladimir Putin and Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
But FIDE leaders, including Emil Sutovsky, the organization’s general director, are signaling they may push for further action beyond the six‑month sanction, according to Karjakin in a commentary with Match TV.
“I was informed by FIDE Director General Sutovsky that they want a harsher consequence and that six months may not be enough. A close associate jokingly mentioned input from the Ukrainian sports ministry,” Karjakin stated.
In response, Sutovsky warned that if Karjakin remains in place, he might ask for Sutovsky to step back as well, with the implication that the officer’s approach would escalate from a minor measure to more significant action. The comments reflect a tense dynamic within the regulatory body as Karjakin continues his athletic career under scrutiny.
FIDE opened an inquiry in March and handed down a six‑month suspension for allegedly insulting the reputation of chess. The decision carries the practical consequence of keeping Karjakin out of the Candidates Tournament in Madrid, scheduled from June 16 to July 7.
Karjakin reached the Candidates as a FIDE Grand Prix finalist and faced a field of nine other grandmasters in a double‑round format in Spain, with the aim of earning a spot in the world championship match against Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
Karjakin had previously qualified for the championship match in 2016 and nearly toppled Carlsen, but a late surge by Carlsen ultimately reversed the advantage. The 2016 encounter ended with Carlsen maintaining the title after a tiebreak. In subsequent Candidates tournaments, Karjakin had mixed results, falling short of victory while Fabiano Caruana advanced to challenge Carlsen.
Following his 2020 Candidates result, Karjakin pressed his bid for another world title challenge with renewed focus. After the sanction was announced, he indicated plans to consult with lawyers about appealing to the FIDE commission or directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, though he did not guarantee a favorable outcome.
There was consideration of establishing a new international chess federation as an alternative to FIDE if the legal route did not succeed, a move that would redefine governance in the game for some players and observers.
Carlsen, who has retained the world crown, offered cautious commentary on Karjakin’s predicament. The Norwegian grandmaster, who has publicly disagreed with some of Karjakin’s views, acknowledged that opinions about the situation vary within the chess community and noted that suspensions can set tricky precedents for future cases.
“Many Russians who once backed Putin or stayed quiet now voice criticism that the president has overreached,” Carlsen remarked. “Karjakin’s stance shifted in the opposite direction, which is problematic for some.”
Carlsen did not directly defend or condemn Karjakin’s position, but he suggested that the fairness of punishing a person for their opinions can be a delicate issue, especially when it comes to future participation in major events. The broader question remains how such cases will influence opportunities to compete at the highest level and how governance bodies balance political expression with the integrity of the sport.
Karjakin later commented that he was surprised by the swift sanctions after voicing his views, explaining that while Carlsen remains a top competitor focused on play, the authorities handle political matters differently. The exchange underscored the tension between individual expression and regulatory action within the international chess community.
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