Whoa! World female chess players shame Turkey

From news.am
January 15, 2011 | 12:22

Participants of the recent 2010 Women’s World Chess Championship in Turkey, including Armenian chess players Elina Danielyan and Lilit Mkrtchyan, wrote an open letter to FIDE complaining about poor level of organization of the tournament.

They also ask FIDE to take steps to improve the situation before the next Women’s World Chess Championship. The letter is posted on chessblog of Alexandra Kosteniuk.

It is signed by Elina Danielian, Nana Dzagnidze, Jovanka Houska, Tatiana Kosintseva, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Maia Lomineishvili, Evgenia Ovod, Amina Mezioud, Lilit Mkrtchian, Elisabeth Paehtz, Anna Muzychuk, Maria Muzhychuk, Natalia Pogonina, Marina Romanko, Irina Slavina, Soumya Swaminathan, Anna Zatonskih and Natalia Zhukova.

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This letter should not be taken lightly.  It it signed by some of the top female chessplayers in the world, including the 12th Women's World Chess Championship, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, who plays under the Russian flag but lives in the U.S.  IM Anna Zatonskih, one of the highest-rated female players in the U.S. and a multi-times U.S. Women's Chess Champion, also signed the letter.  Well, FIDE, what are you going to do about this, heh?  By the way, GM Kosteniuk is co-Chairperson with GM Susan Polgar of the Women's Chess Committee of FIDE. 

The letter and comments can be found at GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's chess blog.  Kudos to Kosteniuk for posting this letter.  The situation as described in the letter is absolutely disgusting.  FIDE, when are you going to get honest, and prevent these kinds of abuses from happening, just for the sake of some $$$ in kick-backs?