What part of "Kovalyov actually left the tournament and hotel and has already booked his flight home" do people not understand? lol
Refer to post #2
Refer to post #2
Just saw this on chessbase:
From Facebook today.
Anton Kovalyov
23 mins ·
I wanted to wait a little till I calm down, but I'm tired of seeing lies everywhere. So here's what happened:
The issue were not the shorts but how I was treated. I came to the game and was approached by the arbiter asking me to change (first time). I told him that I don't have pants with me, and then I noticed that I was playing black instead of white, which came as a surprise for me and asked him to check that. He and the other arbiters checked and confirmed to me that I'm playing with black, we talked a little and everything was fine.
Then came Zurab, he was very aggressive, yelling at me and using the racial slur "gypsy" to insult me, apart from mentioning several times that I will be punished by FIDE. I told him that I had asked before at the previous world cup if what I was wearing was OK and I was told by somebody from the organization that yes. Zurab, in a prepotent way, said he doesn't care, he's the organizer now. At this point I was really angry but tried not to do anything stupid, and asked him why he was so rude to me, and he said because I'm a gypsy.
So imagine this, the round is about to start, I'm being bullied by the organizer of the tournament, being assured that I will be punished by FIDE, yelled at and racially insulted. What would you do in my situation? I think many people would have punched this person in the face or at least insulted him. I decided to leave.
Worth pointing out, I didn't take any pants with me because I gained some weight and they were to tight. If the organization of the tournament would have warned me sooner I would have taken a cab to the mall and bought pants, without any problems whatsoever, but instead I was treated like garbage. I was too stressed out by the way I was treated and the threats of being punished by FIDE no matter what I do, so I choose to leave before I do anything stupid.
Another point worth pointing out, Zurab never asked me to go and change, the conversation consisted of threats, insults, and aggressive behavior from Zurab. He was clearly provoking me.
I will not appeal anything. I am disgusted by this type of people. I don't want the money. I'm coming back home.
From Facebook today.
Anton Kovalyov
23 mins ·
I wanted to wait a little till I calm down, but I'm tired of seeing lies everywhere. So here's what happened:
The issue were not the shorts but how I was treated. I came to the game and was approached by the arbiter asking me to change (first time). I told him that I don't have pants with me, and then I noticed that I was playing black instead of white, which came as a surprise for me and asked him to check that. He and the other arbiters checked and confirmed to me that I'm playing with black, we talked a little and everything was fine.
Then came Zurab, he was very aggressive, yelling at me and using the racial slur "gypsy" to insult me, apart from mentioning several times that I will be punished by FIDE. I told him that I had asked before at the previous world cup if what I was wearing was OK and I was told by somebody from the organization that yes. Zurab, in a prepotent way, said he doesn't care, he's the organizer now. At this point I was really angry but tried not to do anything stupid, and asked him why he was so rude to me, and he said because I'm a gypsy.
So imagine this, the round is about to start, I'm being bullied by the organizer of the tournament, being assured that I will be punished by FIDE, yelled at and racially insulted. What would you do in my situation? I think many people would have punched this person in the face or at least insulted him. I decided to leave.
Worth pointing out, I didn't take any pants with me because I gained some weight and they were to tight. If the organization of the tournament would have warned me sooner I would have taken a cab to the mall and bought pants, without any problems whatsoever, but instead I was treated like garbage. I was too stressed out by the way I was treated and the threats of being punished by FIDE no matter what I do, so I choose to leave before I do anything stupid.
Another point worth pointing out, Zurab never asked me to go and change, the conversation consisted of threats, insults, and aggressive behavior from Zurab. He was clearly provoking me.
I will not appeal anything. I am disgusted by this type of people. I don't want the money. I'm coming back home.
Sounds like a "spoiled brat" to me. I don't believe his "version" in the least. A reputable version states the 1st arbiter informed Kovalyov he would need to change his shorts to which Kovalyov simply refused. He became quite agitated, incorrectly saying he should have the White pieces. Zurab was summoned as the arbiter was unable to resolve the issue. Zurab did not "suddenly appear" provoking Kovalyov with "insults, threats and aggression". Of course he will not appeal anything. It was all a fabrication with no basis in fact. He's "coming back home". "Something" happened that he simply wanted out. An Adult does not behave in this manner and certainly never allows himself to be in such a situation.
He choose "to leave before doing anything stupid". Like punching someone? What is leaving the WC in the 3rd round called? Smart?
He choose "to leave before doing anything stupid". Like punching someone? What is leaving the WC in the 3rd round called? Smart?
@mdinnerspace I think it may be OK to refuse to change his clothes because he was probably unable to go to his hotel and back to the playing hall without being late to the beginning of the round (being late results in a forfeit according to modern rules).
The fact he did not know what color of pieces does he have is *very strange* for a professional of his level, though. So I have to agree with your conclusions..
The fact he did not know what color of pieces does he have is *very strange* for a professional of his level, though. So I have to agree with your conclusions..
@mdinnerspace please stop trolling. Calling someone a gypsy is of course a racist insult. You cannot sugarcoat it and say he probably said something like, "dressing in shorts gives a gypsy like appearance".
1) That is still a racist insult
2) You weren't there so are just making quotes up.
You need to educate yourself on Zurab. He is a nasty piece of work. And now also a racist.
http://danailov-for-president.com/?p=3339
1) That is still a racist insult
2) You weren't there so are just making quotes up.
You need to educate yourself on Zurab. He is a nasty piece of work. And now also a racist.
http://danailov-for-president.com/?p=3339
lol
@arex: It feels funny to wear footwear when you are not wearing pants...
In seriousness, this is disgusting and tyranical behaviour. It is fortunate social media can expose this to the wider community as hopefully it will result of boycotts of events where this crazy person is involved.
In seriousness, this is disgusting and tyranical behaviour. It is fortunate social media can expose this to the wider community as hopefully it will result of boycotts of events where this crazy person is involved.
The arbiter approached Kovalyov 15 minutes before the start time in the playing hall and asked if it were possible for him to "change" his shorts. There was plenty of time to change in his room as he was staying in the Hotel. The arbiter said he was not going to prevent him from playing. Was attempting to work something out. Kovalyov became very vocal, demanding he should have the White pieces, necessitating intervention by Zurab.
Clearly Zurab did not handle it in the best manner. Saying wearing shorts makes one look like a gypsy is not politically correct. Kovalyov kept refusing though, claiming he wore the same shorts at the last WC. Zurab did not care, why should he? But it is NOT in any way a Racist comment. Clearly an over reaction. These "kids" here protesting with the response of "disgusting and tyranical behaviour" sounds like they were just grounded by their parents.
The point is very simple. An arbiter made a request. (You may agree/disagree with it). Even if you disagree, an Adult does not act in the fashion Kovalyov did. He was looking to provoke the situation, had a ready made excuse to leave the event.
All he had to say was, can we work something out? Long pants are not readily available. I don't want to miss the start time and the whole situation would have been avoided. His "accusations" of racism, abuse, derogatory comments, discrimination are very serious. If in fact they were true, anybody would file a protest. Instead he says "I don't want the money, I'm going home and wont make a report" speaks volumes of his childish mental state of mind.
Clearly Zurab did not handle it in the best manner. Saying wearing shorts makes one look like a gypsy is not politically correct. Kovalyov kept refusing though, claiming he wore the same shorts at the last WC. Zurab did not care, why should he? But it is NOT in any way a Racist comment. Clearly an over reaction. These "kids" here protesting with the response of "disgusting and tyranical behaviour" sounds like they were just grounded by their parents.
The point is very simple. An arbiter made a request. (You may agree/disagree with it). Even if you disagree, an Adult does not act in the fashion Kovalyov did. He was looking to provoke the situation, had a ready made excuse to leave the event.
All he had to say was, can we work something out? Long pants are not readily available. I don't want to miss the start time and the whole situation would have been avoided. His "accusations" of racism, abuse, derogatory comments, discrimination are very serious. If in fact they were true, anybody would file a protest. Instead he says "I don't want the money, I'm going home and wont make a report" speaks volumes of his childish mental state of mind.
This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.