Chess supremo claims US bid to topple him
THE eccentric king of world chess says he is the victim of a US-led plot to topple him after a report by his own organisation claimed he had resigned.
Russian millionaire Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, whose presence has provoked a bitter cold war dividing the chess world, was reported to have stepped down from Fide, the game’s governing body, on Sunday at the end of a federation board meeting in Greece.
But Russia’s TASS news agency quoted Mr Ilyumzhinov as saying: “They wanted to oust me but it didn’t work. I haven’t signed anything and I’m not resigning. I think there is an American hand in this, and I think it’s called a set-up.” Mr Ilyumzhinov later released a statement saying: “I have not submitted any official requests for my resignation and do not intend to”.
It comes 18 months after the Fide president was placed on a US sanctions list for alleged dealings with the Syrian regime. In recent weeks Mr Ilyumzhinov, who was unable to attend last year’s world championship match in New York due to the threat of arrest, has come under increasing pressure to end his 22-year reign.
Enemies have circled with a series of public challenges to his authority. The Daily
Telegraph understands rumours were already circulating within Fide that moves had been made to unseat Mr Ilyumzhinov at a General Assembly meeting last year.