Russian Chess Player Suspended for Allegedly Trying to Poison Opponent at Tournament

Russian Chess Player Suspended for Allegedly Trying to Poison Opponent

A shocking incident has rocked the world of chess as Russian chess player Amina Abakarova, 40, has been suspended after allegedly attempting to poison her opponent at a recent tournament. According to a report by the New York Post, Abakarova was caught on camera sneaking into the tournament room of the Dagestan Chess Championship and pouring a substance onto a chessboard, rubbing it on several pieces before quietly slipping out of the room.

The match was scheduled to take place in Makhachkala, a city in southern Russia. Abakarova’s opponent was her childhood rival, Umayganat Osmanova, whom she allegedly wanted to take revenge on for a personal insult, as reported by The Telegraph.

The attempt was discovered after a tournament judge noticed Osmanova’s discomfort, leading to the police being informed and security tapes being checked. It was revealed that Abakarova had applied an unidentified substance containing mercury to the table where Osmanova was set to play.

Sazhid Sazhidov, the president of the Russian Republic of Dagestan for physical culture and sports, confirmed the incident, stating that Abakarova admitted to breaking a thermometer over the table and spreading mercury across the board.

Malcolm Pain, English Chess Federation director of international chess, expressed shock at the incident, calling it unprecedented in the history of the game. Despite the health scare, Osmanova managed to finish the match and even secured one of the top spots, according to reports in Russian media.

Abakarova now faces up to three years in jail if found guilty of the alleged poisoning attempt. The chess community is reeling from this unprecedented event, with many expressing disbelief at the lengths someone would go to in a game known for its strategic depth and intellectual challenge.