Against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis involving Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, allowing Russian players to compete raises ethical questions about the principles of peace, freedom, and human rights that should guide our sport. While chess is a game of strategy and intellect, it is also a reflection of our values and beliefs.

Today, on February 24th, as a chess community, we need to pause, reflect, and take action.

Every year since the invasion and the brutal war on Ukraine by Russia, Peter Doggers from chess.com writes an article to remind us of the impact of the war on Ukrainian chess players. Very well written with empathy and profound information.

• Ukrainian Chess Players In Times Of War

• A Year Of War For Ukrainian Chess Players

There is also a great supporting/awerness articel in “New in Chess” about Natalia Zhukova Cover posted on her Facebook page.

All we Ukrainians want is to be left in peace

What a powerful statement! Zhukova runs a charity for Ukrainian chess players that are effected by the war. It’s a touching and powerfull interview, done in 2022 but but is a timeless interview valid now and in hundred years to come!

Another great read and learning is the supporting book which I bought a year ago:

From Ukraine with Love for Chess

With contributions by the great Vasyl Ivanchuk, Ruslan Ponomariov, Mariya and Anna Muzychuk and many, many others

A book with great learnings where FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov coordinated this wonderful collection of chess games from Ukrainian players. All games were nominated and annotated by the players themselves. The proceeds of this book will support Ukrainian charities.

Empathy and Ethics?

On February 20th, when the pairings for the upcoming Champions League 10 were finalized and all teams and players received their invitations, I started preparing myself for my opponents, collecting games, and studying their openings and defensive strategies. The Champions League 10 (2024-2026) is a correspondence chess team tournament played in biennial cycles.

However, I was shocked to discover the participation of five Russian chess player teams named Volga-Moscow-1 to 5 - each consisting of 4 players - in the upcoming Champions League tournament.

I wrote an open letter to Eric Ruch, ICCF President, to express my profound concern regarding their participation in the tournament scheduled to commence on February 25th, coinciding with the tragic anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine has led to unimaginable suffering, including a humanitarian catastrophe with significant loss of life and widespread displacement.

As chess enthusiasts, we have a responsibility to engage with our national delegates and ICCF officials to express our concerns and advocate for ethical decision-making.

Creating awareness about these issues is the first step towards fostering meaningful dialogue and promoting positive change within the chess community. Together, we can uphold the integrity of our sport and ensure that our actions reflect the values we hold dear.

I encourage fellow chess enthusiasts to join me in raising awareness about this important issue and engaging in constructive dialogue with relevant stakeholders. By working together, we can make a difference and uphold the principles of peace, freedom, and human rights within the world of chess.

Message from Jason Bokar, ICCF-US Director on March 2022 to the chess community: ..”we also shouldn’t remain silent”

Open Letter

Support Revive Soldiers of Ukraine

If you found this post insightful and would like to support the Revived Soldiers of Ukraine organization, please consider donating through my Buy Me a Coffee widget on this page (or directly) and all blogs with content related to the topic or when I annotate and review games versus Ukrainian chess players. Your contribution will help provide assistance to those affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Amici Sumus

Supporting Information and Links

• Giving is personal and there are many ways to give. I support Revived Soldiers of Ukraine, a well-established 501(c)(3) U.S. charity. You can buy me a coffee with the link in this post and it will be donated.
• From Ukraine with Love, New in Chess, 2022
• My blog post to create awareness Another Year to Come
• My blog post to create awareness Amici Sumus: Finding Unity and Strength in Chess - My Journey at the Peace Open Tournament

• You like puzzles or wooden tech models?

  ‘U’ in UGEARS stands for ‘Ukrainian

  Unidragon puzzles are proudly made in Ukraine. The company is based in Kyiv

And there is more… you will find your way how to support!