Grandmasters Parham #Maghsoodloo and Amin #Tabatabaei had #played against an #Israeli #FIDE champion in a blitz tournament. Competition with #Israelis has been banned from #Iranian athletes for 36 years.
FIDE Vice President @nigelshortchess spontaneously congratulated the two #Iranians for their courage. The #British later speculated that without consultation with the local authorities, the two #Iranians would hardly have dared to take such a step.
Instead of the two "#culprits", #Iran is now #punishing its entire team of top players by prohibiting them from participating in the Rapid and Blitz World Cup. The top Iranian players can take part in the women's competition in #Moscow. No Israelis are registered there.
Meanwhile, it is becoming apparent that the prospective world-class player Alireza Firouzja opposes the #ban from home by playing under the #FIDE flag in #Moscow. #IranProtests 
This may be a first step towards a change of #federation. Alireza Firouzja lives in #Paris. Rumors have been going around for some time that the #French #chess federation is trying to get the super talent to change the #federation.
The more stones #Iran puts in his way, the more likely he is to give in to the wooing of others.
@no_itsmyturn @bamdad_azad @SamanehPary maybe a story you like to reade :)
@no_itsmyturn @bamdad_azad @SamanehPary maybe a story you like to reade :)
@Imamofpeace maybe a story for you too to reade :)?
@threadreaderapp please unroll
