AZERBAIJANI GRANDMASTER SHAHRIYAR MAMMADYAROV: “I WILL QUIT THE NATIONAL TEAM”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 27 2006
“Azerbaijan Chess Federation leadership shows disrespect,
ill-discrimination for the chess players.
They involve who they want in the national team. Just imagine that
those selected to participate in the Olympiad have less rating and
experience than those who are not selected,” two times world champion
among youth, Shahriyar Mammadyarov, told APA exclusively. Saying
weak chess players have been involved in the composition of our
team of women to participate in Olympiad in Turin, Italian city. Mr.
Mammadyarov thinks that the strongest should represent Azerbaijan in
this competition.
“Firuze Valikhanli, Ilaha Gadimova, Turkan Mammadyarova and others
gained experience in international tournaments. They are the
strongest chess players in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan gained higher
places in Olympiads held in 2002-2004 thanks to them. They shared
-5-8th places winning Armenians in the competition. They have been
removed from the national team now. Do they deserve this disrespect?
Federation leadership is not right”.
He also stressed that he will quit the national team.
“We-most grandmasters are of the same opinion. We plan to quit the
team objecting to this bias. If the federation does not correct its
errors and does not end discrimination against the chess players,
I will quit and will not represent the federation any longer”.
National team chief coach Fikrat Sideifzade told APA that he had
spoken with Mammadyarov about this matter.
“Even we requested him to join the Olympiad. But it is a pity that he
wants to quit the national team because the problem has no relation
to him”.