Checkmate or Checkmate? Chess Player Allegedly Uses Mercury to Tip the Scales

In the annals of chess history, few stories are as bizarre and unsettling as the one that recently unfolded in Dagestan, Russia. For those who thought that the world of chess was purely a battle of intellect and strategy, the rivalry between Amina Abakarova, 40, and Umayganat Osmanova, 30, reveals a darker, more treacherous side to the game. What began as a childhood friendship morphed into a toxic rivalry, quite literally, when Abakarova was accused of poisoning a chessboard with liquid mercury, ultimately making her opponent sick.

The incident occurred during a chess tournament on August 2. Surveillance footage captured Abakarova taking something out of her bag and smearing a substance on the chessboard and table. As the game commenced, Osmanova began to feel unwell about 30 minutes into the match. The symptoms were grave enough to warrant an immediate call for emergency services. Doctors later confirmed that Osmanova was suffering from mercury poisoning, a diagnosis that shocked the chess community.

Upon reviewing the surveillance footage, authorities detained Abakarova. During questioning, she confessed to using liquid mercury from a thermometer to tamper with the chessboard. Her intent, according to her confession, was merely to scare Osmanova. However, the consequences were far more serious, affecting not only Osmanova but also another player and a chess official who were exposed to the toxic fumes. This incident stemmed from a long-standing rivalry that took a turn for the worse when Abakarova violated game rules by bringing a cellphone to a previous tournament. Osmanova’s subsequent gossip about the incident further fueled the animosity.

The repercussions for Abakarova have been severe. The Russian Chess Federation promptly suspended her, and she now faces potential jail time for her actions. This scandal has sent ripples through the chess community, raising questions about sportsmanship, rivalry, and the lengths to which some individuals will go to win or settle scores. Malcolm Pein, the English Chess Federation’s Director of International Chess, noted that this is the first recorded case of someone using a toxic substance in the history of chess. It’s a dubious honor that no one in the chess world would want to claim.

While chess has always been a game of strategy, intellect, and sometimes, intense rivalry, this incident serves as a grim reminder that ethics and fair play should never be compromised. The metallic taste experienced by Osmanova, a telltale sign of mercury poisoning, is a stark symbol of how far things went wrong. It’s a cautionary tale for the chess community and beyond, emphasizing that the spirit of competition should never give way to malicious intent.