– There is no doubt that I was disappointed about it.

Chess player and coach of Magnus Carlsen, Peter Heine Nielsen, is very concerned about the presidential election of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on 7 August.

Earlier this year it became known that the president of Russia’s Fide Arkady Dvorkovich stands for reelection as supreme leader of Fide.

If the election goes Russia’s way, he gets a Norwegian on the team. Former president of the Norwegian Chess Federation Jøran Aulin-Jansson has agreed to become Dvorkovic’s vice president.

That made Danish Heine Nielsen shake his head. He was disappointed with the Norwegian’s choice.

– I think it’s his fault for doing that. I understood when Jøran said that it would be good for chess, but I disagreed. There are a: things that are bigger than chess, and b: it’s not good for chess because the world is against Russia, he told NRK.

Controversial

Heine Nielsen’s disappointment stems from the background of Fide’s controversial president. The 50-year-old man from Moscow held a key position in Russian politics for two decades. Until 2018, Dvorkovich was deputy prime minister in Russia under the Putin-friendly government of Dmitry Medvedev.

– This is not Dvorkovich as a person, but it is his past and a representation of the Russian government. He has been the spokesman for Russia on several occasions on the international stage, said Heine Nielsen.

The chess profile is clear that he doesn’t want to Dvorkovich will be re-elected, precisely because of his past and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

– He has made the world of chess more centered on Russia. With what we know now, this has to change. There should be no relations with Russia.

Heine Nielsen stands as deputy for Ukraine’s Fide presidential candidate Andrii Baryshpolets in the upcoming elections.

Understand criticism

– I spent some time thinking about it. It was not without controversy to unite the Russian people in these times. After checking with the Foreign Ministry and other people who know Russia, I decided to stand up, Aulin-Jansson told NRK.

In April, the former chess president heard about interest from Dvorkovitch. After a longer period of reflection, he decided to agree to become one of the two vice presidents under Russia. VG mentioned the news in May.

Aulin-Jansson paid tribute to the current president and justified Dvorkovitch’s support by saying it was the best thing for chess right now. At the same time, he was clear that the choice was not easy.

– Of course, I’m thinking about the cruel war that Russia is waging against Ukraine right now. This is a crossword puzzle. I guess I’ve come to the conclusion that sacrificing Fide won’t make the world a better place, for Ukraine or anyone else.

– Do you understand that people are critical of elections?

– I have. Of course, he said, adding:

– Now he (Dvorkovich) is out of politics in 2018 and certainly doesn’t support war.

– I think it’s true

Dvorkovich before critical of the war in Ukraine. “War kills hope and ambition, and stops or destroys relationships and cohesion”, he has stated before.

Despite that statement, Heine Nielsen is highly critical of Russia and its decisions Aulin-Jansson – who disagrees with the criticism from Denmark.

– I understand that Peter is disappointed when he has the opinion he has. It’s completely “fair enough” that. We don’t have to agree on everything. I love Peter, and I think he is one of the best coaches in the world. But politically we may not be in the same boat, at least not in this case, the Norwegian said.

– But you understand the criticism?

– I understand that. Nonetheless, I believe that it is still the right thing to do. So I am responsible for that, he replied.