Russian Chess Player Accused of Mercury Poisoning Attempt
In a startling allegation that has sent shockwaves through the chess community, a Russian chess player faces potential criminal charges and a lifetime ban after being caught on camera allegedly attempting to poison her opponent during a tournament in Dagestan last week. The incident, dubbed the "Mercury Gambit," has left authorities and fellow players reeling, as the pursuit of victory seemingly took a sinister turn.
The Russian Chess Federation issued a statement on Wednesday addressing what it termed "an attempt to poison a participant in the championship of the Republic of Dagestan in Makhachkala." The accused player, Amina Abakarova, has been temporarily suspended from all competitions under the federation's authority, pending the conclusion of a criminal investigation into the incident.
The statement references a 34-second surveillance video shared by the Telegram news channel Baza, which purportedly shows Abakarova walking around a room set up for a chess tournament. In the footage, she appears to rub something on one of the chessboards before looking around furtively and walking away.
According to Baza's report, the incident unfolded on Friday during a competition at the Chess House in Makhachkala. One of the participants, identified as Umaiganat Osmanova, fell ill during the tournament after sitting at the table with the allegedly contaminated board. Eyewitnesses reported the concerning situation to the organizers, who reviewed the surveillance footage that same evening and subsequently alerted the authorities.
Sazhid Sazhidov, Dagestan's sports minister, released a statement alleging that Abakarova, a Makhachkala native and previous winner of the tournament, spread a substance containing mercury on the table used by Osmanova. "As a result, during the game Osmanova's health worsened, and she required medical attention. However, no one else was hurt," Sazhidov stated.
While assuring that the lives of participants and guests are not in immediate danger, Sazhidov expressed bewilderment at the incident, describing Abakarova's alleged actions as potentially leading to "the saddest outcome" and threatening the lives of everyone present at the Chess House, including her own.
In an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia, Osmanova recounted seeing "tiny balls" rolling out from under her board during the tournament. Initially unaware of their nature, she later realized they could have been mercury and promptly alerted the organizers. Osmanova described feeling ill, struggling to breathe, and experiencing disorientation. She accused Abakarova of intentionally attempting to poison her and endangering the lives of many others in the building.
The Russian Chess Federation's executive director, Alexander Tkachyov, expressed deep disappointment over the incident and vowed a harsh reaction if Abakarova's guilt is proven, including the possibility of a lifelong disqualification from the sport.
The Dagestan Interior Ministry has confirmed that it is investigating the incident and the substance involved, though no official charges have been announced against Abakarova as of yet.
As the chess world grapples with this unprecedented allegation of foul play, the incident has raised profound questions about the integrity of the game and the lengths some may go to secure victory. The "Mercury Gambit," if proven true, could tarnish the noble reputation of chess and leave a lasting stain on the sport's commitment to fair play and sportsmanship.