Is Firouzja trying to rating farm?

 FIDE have released the following statement on their Twitter account:




It then goes on from there, but doesn't say much apart from the fact that it may look to prevent such incidences occuring in future. 


This is in reponse to Alireza Firouzja currently playing several games in Chartres, France, with the express sentiment of getting Firouzja's rating up high enough, that he can qualify for the Candidates in 2024, in the rating spot.


Personally I find FIDE's statement while hardly astounding, somewhat puzzling. For once you get a situation in chess where you have something that is exciting, where it is on a knife-edge, and all they do is question the integrity of the players?


Sorry but who made the rules? It wasn't Firoujza. All he is doing is saying I want to qualify, I want to be there.


Lets look at some of the specifics of the rating race: 


  • Currently Wesley So is leading, but has stated on Twitter that he doesn't want to get drawn into such a race.  Other players like Vincent Keymer have also declined to get involved in such a race and why should Vincent- his chance will surely come. 

 

 

  • Gukesh failed to seal the deal in London but now gets another chance- a tournament has been set up for him in Chennai. 

 

  •      Dominguez was not doing well in Sunway Sitges and so decided to withdraw. It seems doubtful that he will give it another roll of the dice. 

 

  • Firoujza has a chance but will have to score heavily against the opposition he faces in France. Any draws and it is possible the matches will be cancelled.   


 In other sports, you often have an exciting race at the end to see who qualifies, or who takes down the trophy. Golf has the Fedex cup, for example. Football has the play-offs. For once in the staid world of chess stuff is happening around the world, it is an exciting race and FIDE want to end that? It's a bit ridiculous for me.                              

 

Comments

  1. Michel HoetmerDecember 20, 2023 at 6:54 AM

    I think the whole business with getting your place in the candidates on rating is flawed. Personally I prefer the old system (zonal and interzonal tournaments) where players had to qualify.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Daniel GormallyDecember 23, 2023 at 5:11 AM

    yes

    ReplyDelete

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