Warning for the easily offended. I hate censorship and I hate cancel culture.
Following the dead of GM Daniel Naroditsky. There is a petition going on requesting FIDE to ban former Chess world champion GM Vladimir Kramnik and revoke his Title/norms/world championship and his Grandmaster title because of “ethics standards”. In short, they want to completely erase him from the history books. Pretend that he never existed! Over 23,000 people signed it!
While we’re at it, why not exile, prison or hanging?
In my view, once you are a World Champion in anything or a Chess Grandmaster. You are a GM and a World Champ forever. We are talking about Chess skills and achievements here, not “moral” issues or a popularity contest. If you erase Kramnik’s name from the history books. Then who will be the de-facto “world champion”? The runner-up??
To “erase” someone’s title because of non-chess reasons sets a dangerous and unlikely precedent. Titles like World Champion or Grandmaster are earned through skill, not moral sainthood and public perception.
Naroditsky vs Kramnik: A War of Image
The reality is that Daniel Naroditsky was popular, sympathic and well-liked while Vladimir Kramnik is seen as the old, creepy, uncool guy.
What if Daniel Naroditsky was a cheater for real?
Shouldn’t cheaters be pursued?
The Flip Side of the Coin
If Hans Niemann commits suicide tomorrow. Would the Chess community cancels Magnus Carlsen as the greatest player of all time or would he gets a free pass because he’s hip and Hans Niemann isn’t well-liked?
Anyway, nobody will remember anything in three weeks.
I think the entire world has a much worse problem to deal with.
PYGOD, Chess Scolar
P.S. (No matter my opinion, I’m not better or worse than all these Chess influencers disguised as social justice warriors just to get some clout and making a buck out of a tragic event. At least, I don’t try to cancel anybody.)
Feel free to roast me, leave a comment below 👇
