Sergey Karjakin has infuriated the chess world through his recent controversial comments on social media supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The grandmaster is also facing an ethics case brought by FIDE and risks suspension from tournament play. Now organisers in Stavanger and London say the Russian 32-year-old is no longer welcome at their tournaments.

Sergey Karjakin, here with his wife Galiya, during the closing ceremony in Stavanger in 2021, is no longer welcome at Norway Chess, according to the organisers | photo: Norway Chess

The former World Championship challenger, currently ranked number 18 in the world, is facing an ethics case after being accused of bringing the game into disrepute for his outbursts on social media since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The comments have led to an ethics case with FIDE stating they condemn "any public statement from any member of the chess community which supports unjustified military action".

Karjakin will now also face difficulty receiving invitations to top tournaments around the world. One of them is Norway Chess, a tournament Karjakin won in 2013 and 2014 and has participated in a total of five times, including 2021.

Chief organiser Kjell Madland now tells chess24 that the Russian is no longer welcome in Stavanger.

Sergey Karjakin chose to support a nation and a president that is responsible for cruel war acts against another nation and innocent people. We cannot be associated with people who show support for cruelty like that. That makes it completely unlikely that we will want to invite him to Norway Chess in the future.

Madland adds:

The fact that he chose to show his support for Putin is completely incomprehensible and very sad. Karjakin has kids himself and he should be able to understand how horribly this affects children and innocent people.

Sergey Karjakin's latest tweet, showing him in Dubai with boxing gloves and the caption, "Celebrating the first day of spring. A Russian spring," provoked almost universal derision, with some suggesting he travel to Ukraine where former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Vitali Klitschko is Major of Kyiv.    

Grandmaster Rauf Mamedov responded:

Sergey, 

We've been acquainted for 24 years, and we've always had a normal relationship. But now you have, unfortunately, turned into a clown and you're supporting the death of your own brother Slavs. You're writing offensive posts at the same time as our colleagues are spending yet another day in bomb shelters. Many chess players, my colleagues, have been left without a home. 

I pity you now. 

Although Norway Chess singled out Sergey Karjakin for a likely permanent ban, they have also now taken the decision not to invite any Russian players for the 2022 edition, publishing the following statement. 

In regard to the horrific situation that is taking place in Ukraine by the Russian government, Norway Chess has decided to support the sanctions the world community has made against Russia. This means that we can not have participation from Russia in Norway Chess for the 10th edition of Norway Chess that will take place from May 30 to June 10, 2022. Millions of Russians do not want war and we know this situation has major consequences also for the Russian people. We stand with the people in Ukraine.

The player field will be announced later this month.

Alexander Grischuk, who made a statement against the war while playing in the Belgrade FIDE Grand Prix, was originally set to play, according to Norway's TV 2. 

Malcolm Pein, organiser of the London Chess Classic tournaments in which Karjakin took part in 2017, also made it clear Karjakin is not welcome. Asked how likely an invitation is, Pein says:

In percentage terms I would put the chances of him being invited to a tournament I organise in London as somewhere between zero and minus 1.

Pein previously made his thoughts about Karjakin's comments clear on Twitter.

Jeroen van den Berg, chief organiser of Tata Steel Chess in Wijk aan Zee, a tournament Karjakin has taken part in 10 times since 2006, declind to comment to chess24 on the matter. The Grand Chess Tour and the Saint Louis Chess Club did not respond to a request for comment.

Sergey Karjakin qualified for his fourth Candidates Tournament through an impressive performance in the 2021 FIDE World Cup, but his participation in the event which is scheduled to take place in Madrid June 16 to July 7, could also be in doubt.

Francois Styrdom, Chairman of FIDE's Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, confirms to chess24 that the complaint by the FIDE Council against Karjakin and Sergey Shipov has been received under the title "Public statements causing alleged harm to FIDE, its federations and the game of chess" and is referred to a panel of three members for adjudication.

It is expected that the matter will take approximately three weeks to reach a final decision. The first step is to afford each of GM Karjakin & GM Shipov an opportunity to answer the complaints against them in writing. If found guilty, GM Karjakin & GM Shipov can be sanctioned in terms of any of the available punishments in art 3 of the FIDE Code of Ethics, according to the decision of the Panel.

According to rules, the commitee can take the following sanctions:

• warning
• reprimand
• return of awards: fine up to 25,000 US dollars
• revocations of titles and sports results
• social work
• ban up to 15 years on taking part in chess competition, or in any chess-related activity, as a player, arbiter, organiser or representative of a chess federation
• temporary exclusion from membership or office

Russia will also not be taking part in team events in the near future, and its participation in the 2022 Chess Olympiad, which now seems set for India, is highly doubtful with international sport bodies covering football, handball, athletics, skiing, ice hockey and curling banning Russian teams and athletes.

FIDE also announced today that the World Team Chess Championship, scheduled for Jerusalem in April, has been moved to November. The Polish Chess Federation had already threatened they would refuse to play if Russia took part.

At the moment, due to the ongoing tragic events related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the participation of the Ukrainian team cannot be ensured and the Russian national team cannot be allowed to participate in the championship. In addition, a number of other teams have not confirmed their participation. FIDE calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The International Olympic Commitee (IOC) have also taken the step to recommend suspending all Russian and Belarusian sportsmen. It's currently unclear whether FIDE will adopt the same policy, but the short notice means Russian players in the FIDE Grand Prix in Belgrade are currently competing under a neutral flag.

See also:

• Ukrainian chess grandmasters caught in a warzone
• Russia and Belarus banned from holding world chess events | Karjakin to face ethics case