In a shocking turn of events, a chess player has been suspended by the Russian Chess Federation and is potentially facing jail time after allegedly attempting to poison her rival during a tournament.
The incident has sent ripples through the chess community, raising concerns about safety and sportsmanship in the game.
Amina Abakarova, a 40-year-old chess coach from Makhachkala in the Russian Republic of Dagestan, stands accused of trying to poison her competitor, 30-year-old Umayganat Osmanova. The alleged poisoning took place during the Dagestan Chess Championship on August 2, according to reports that first surfaced on a Telegram channel and have since gained widespread attention in both Russian state media and international outlets.
Security camera footage from the event reportedly shows Abakarova approaching the chessboard where Osmanova was set to compete 20 minutes later. It has been suggested that Abakarova had earlier inquired whether the cameras were operational and was mistakenly informed that they were not. She then allegedly smeared what is believed to be mercury from a thermometer onto the chessboard—an act that could have had deadly consequences.
Approximately 30 minutes into the match, Osmanova began to feel unwell, experiencing symptoms such as nausea and dizziness. Concerned for her health, tournament officials quickly called for medical assistance. After a thorough examination, doctors concluded that poisoning was the likely cause of her sudden illness. The tournament arbiter, upon reviewing the security footage, reported the incident to local authorities, leading to Abakarova’s arrest.
Osmanova later described the ordeal as a harrowing experience, stating, “I felt terrible, disgusting, and morally depressed when I realized I had been poisoned.” She also mentioned that another player and an organizer present during the match experienced similar symptoms. Reflecting on her near-miss with a potentially fatal outcome, she said, “I still feel bad. In the first minutes, I felt a lack of air and a taste of iron in my mouth. I had to spend about five hours on this board. I don’t know what would have happened to me if I hadn’t noticed it earlier.”
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Reports indicate that Abakarova has confessed to the crime, admitting that her intent was to “knock her opponent out of the tournament” due to personal hostility. She reportedly harbored resentment towards Osmanova, who had recently won the Dagestan Rapid Championship, finishing ahead of Abakarova on tiebreaks. According to Russian media, Abakarova’s intention was not to cause harm but to instill fear in her rival. Nevertheless, the serious nature of the act has led to her being detained by police and facing charges that could result in up to three years in prison.
Andrey Filatov, President of the Russian Chess Federation, confirmed Abakarova’s temporary suspension from all Russian chess events pending the outcome of the investigation. If found guilty, Abakarova could face a lifetime ban from competitive chess. The scandal has also drawn the attention of Dagestan’s Minister of Sport, Sazhid Sazhidov, who expressed his disbelief: “Like many others, I am perplexed by what happened, and the motives of such an experienced competitor as Amina Abakarova are incomprehensible. The actions she took could have led to a most tragic outcome, threatening the lives of everyone who was present, including herself. Now she must answer for what she did by the law.”
Despite the ordeal, Osmanova made a full recovery and was able to continue participating in the tournament. She ultimately finished in second place and was awarded a prize. In contrast, Abakarova was expelled from the competition after the fourth round and now faces an uncertain future, with her chess career likely in jeopardy.
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This unprecedented incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethics and integrity in sports, where rivalry should never cross the line into malicious intent. As the investigation unfolds, the chess community will undoubtedly be watching closely, with the hope that justice will be served and that such an event will never be repeated.
