Former Russian chess player Vladimir Fedoseev, who now competes under the flag of Slovenia and recently took part in the Vugar Gashimov Memorial in Khankendi, where he finished among the prize winners, has been stripped of all sports titles in Russia.
According to Idman.Biz, the Russian Ministry of Sports has deprived Fedoseev of the titles of Master of Sports of Russia and Grandmaster of Russia.
In 2023, Fedoseev, who had been regarded as one of the country’s strongest young chess players, switched his sporting nationality to Slovenia. Earlier, he had publicly criticized the war in Ukraine and, even before FIDE sanctions were introduced, refused to compete with Russian symbols, asking for the flag of the Russian Chess Federation to be removed from his table at international tournaments.
Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation Alexander Tkachev supported the decision of the Ministry of Sports, stating: "If you make public statements that completely discredit your country, why should you hold the highest sports titles? You simply do not deserve them."
It should be noted that Fedoseev previously cooperated with Azerbaijan’s leading chess player Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. He was part of his coaching staff in the mid-2010s and worked as a second, including at the Vugar Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir in 2018.
Recently, from December 8 to 12, Fedoseev took part in the Vugar Gashimov Memorial rapid and blitz tournament held in Khankendi. The Slovenian representative shared first and second place with Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi, but finished second on tiebreaks.
It is worth adding that Vladimir Fedoseev is the absolute European champion under 18 (2013) and a bronze medalist at the European and World Championships in the under-20 age category (2014).
Teymur Tushiyev
