The World Chess Federation said Wednesday it will investigate whether Russian chess champ Vladimir Kramnik should be disciplined for the disparaging public statements he made “before and after the tragic death” of American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.
Arkady Dvorkovich, president of the worldwide organization better known by its French acronym FIDE, made the announcement in a statement to NBC News after many top players in the chess world accused Kramnik of besmirching Naroditsky’s reputation by falsely and repeatedly accusing him on cheating during online matches.
Naroditsky was found dead earlier this week at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, and so far the cause of death has not been released.
“The chess community has long respected the achievements of GM Vladimir Kramnik, and his contributions to our sport are undeniable,” Dvorkovich said in the statement. “The same high standards that accompany great achievements, however, also confer a responsibility to uphold the principles of fairness and respect and to be ambassadors for the sport.”
Dvorkovich did not say in the statement what kind of disciplinary action Kramnik could face if the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission concludes he crossed the line. But he acknowledged that chess has a bullying problem.
“In recent times, public debate within the chess world has too often moved beyond the boundaries of acceptable, harming not only people’s reputation but their very well-being,” he said. “When this happens, discussions can turn into harassment, bullying, and personal attacks — a particularly serious concern in today’s environment.”
Emil Sutovksy, who is the CEO of FIDE, said in an interview with Reuters that he was “looking into” Kramnik’s public campaign against Naroditsky.
Naroditsky’s death at age 29 outraged his supporters in the chess world, who said he’d been bullied relentlessly by Kramnik, a former world champion who has accused many players of cheating in online play.
There was no immediate response from Kramnik to the FIDE announcement. But earlier Wednesday, the Russian chess champ insisted in an email to NBC News that he was the “subject of a bullying and slandering PR campaign” as well as ongoing threats to him and his family.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.