Kazakhstan Chess Federation comments on scandal during a tournament in India

On March 25, 2023, two-time female chess champion Bibisara Assaubayeva publicly criticized the behavior of grandmaster Zhansaya Abdumalik during the Women’s Grand Prix in New Delhi, India. According to Assaubayeva, Abdumalik decided to leave the tournament, citing a lack of attention from the organizers of the event.

Assaubayeva noted that one person who got annoyed with insignificant things and decided to leave at the last minute put the entire 12-person tournament at risk. «Even though there are many questions for local organizers, the real problem here is Zhansaya. In sports we have to be ready for non-standard situations,» she said.

Abdumalik later stated that the organization of the tournament was quite poor since nobody met her at the airport when she arrived at 1:30 am.

«I can’t imagine a situation when organizers of a tournament would have not met a male chess player at the airport,» she highlighted.

Moreover, the sportswoman said that she experienced a problem with the air in Delhi. «I could not leave the hotel because its workers warned me that it might be dangerous for my health,» Abdumalik added.

She called on the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to pay more attention to women’s chess.

«It was too much for me. I think we deserve to play in a nice environment. Everybody knows that I am a fighter and wouldn’t have left a tournament without a reason,» she said.

In turn, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KCF) expressed its concern over the situation and hoped that both sportswomen will get over negative emotions and continue to play an excellent game.

Currently, the federation is discussing the situation with FIDE. The KCF also said it hopes that the level of international women’s chess tournaments will increase.

«The KCF would like to note that it’s not responsible for this chess tournament in India. This is the jurisdiction of FIDE and local organizers,» the federation said in a statement.

FIDE officially apologized to local organizers for not doing enough to make the Women’s Grand Prix in India flawless. According to FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich, the tournament will continue with some corrections. An additional coordinator from FIDE will cover all extra expenditures by sportswomen.

He also officially stated that there are now 11 participants in the Women’s Grand Prix in New Delhi.

The tournament is expected to start on March 26 and finish on April 6.