Candidates controversy: There was large controversy in Toronto throughout Spherical 9 of the Candidates chess event after one of many contenders, Alireza Firouzja, claimed he was advised by the arbiter to cease strolling throughout video games as a result of “his sneakers have been making quite a lot of noise.”
The Iran-born, French grandmaster posted a collection of tweets proper after his sport in opposition to the open class chief Ian Nepomniachtchi resulted in a draw on Monday morning.
Firouzja additionally claimed the arbiter had requested him to put on a unique pair of sneakers within the subsequent spherical. He stated that the arbiter’s phrases had made him lose focus.
What occurred in Alireza Firouzja vs Ian Nepomniachtchi sport?
Nepo was in hassle through the sport on the Candidates, however escaped to carry on to a draw. The consequence stored him within the joint lead together with Indian teenager Gukesh after 9 rounds.
“Shameful motion by the chief arbiter Marghetis in direction of me through the sport. Center of the sport in probably the most intense second after I was strolling throughout Ian’s transfer, chief aribiter got here to me and advised me to not stroll anymore as a result of my shoe is making noise on the wood ground. He advised me to not stroll and convey new sneakers for tomorrow however I’ve the formal shoe that’s accredited and am carrying it for greater than 1 yr. This was a giant distraction for me through the sport and I fully misplaced my focus. I advised one of many organiser this arbiter must be punished,” Firouzja tweeted.
He went on to assert that he was being targetted.
“Actually all these unprofessional issues are taking place to me in virtually each event and actually its taking me to level of exhaustion,” he added.
The incident reminded social media customers of the notorious incident the place Anna-Maja Kazarian was requested to vary her sneakers and was fined 100 euros by FIDE on the World Fast and Blitz Championship.
Responding to a social media consumer on what sort of sneakers he was carrying, Firouzja stated: “Its a standard, formal males’s sneakers. Within the ladies part they’re carrying excessive heels and no motion by arbiter.”