Russian chess champion ‘smeared poison on childhood rival’s board’ | EUROtoday

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The world of chess has been rocked after a Russian chess champion allegedly tried to poison her childhood rival by masking her items in lethal mercury.

Now going through a potential jail sentence, Amina Abakarova, 43, was caught on a safety digicam showing to smear her rival’s items with the substance forward of a match in Makhachkala, southern Russia final week.

According to the World Health Organisation, even minor publicity to mercury can have critical well being penalties.

In the surprising footage, Ms Abakarova could be seen wanting suspiciously round a room filled with chess boards to make sure nobody else was current.

She then approaches her opponent’s desk, takes what seems to be a vial from her bag, and pours the substance on the items earlier than wanting across the room once more.

The sufferer required medical remedy after experiencing “severe dizziness and nausea” through the recreation, however she was in a position to proceed with the match.

It is claimed that Ms Abakarova poisoned Umayganat Osmanova in an act of revenge after she insulted her final Friday.

She is now going through as much as three years behind bars for the incident.

Sazhid Sazhidov, a Dagistani sports activities official, stated: “We have video proof showing that one of the players at the Dagestani chess championship, Amina Abakarova from the city of Makhachkala, applied an unidentified substance, which later turned out to contain mercury, to the table where Umayganat Osmanova from the city of Kaspiisk was set to play against her.”

Malcolm Pain of the English Chess Federation informed The Telegraph that there’s not different recorded case within the historical past of chess of an tried poisoning throughout a recreation.

“Like many others, I am perplexed by what happened, and the motives of such an experienced competitor as Amina Abakarova are incomprehensible,” he stated.

“The actions she took could have led to a most tragic outcome, threatening the lives of everyone who was present, including herself. Now she must answer for what she did by the law.”

The incident was reported to the related authorities by the match and the CCTV footage of the obvious assault was handed over in proof.

The Russian Chess Federation is now contemplating giving Ms Abakarova lifetime ban.

“We are waiting for the investigation from law enforcement bodies,” Alexander Tkachyov, the Russian Chess Federation govt director, informed Tass.

“If the other chess player is found guilty, our [RCF] reaction will be stiff, possibly a lifetime ban.”

He added: “We regret that such an incident took place at a chess tournament.

“We have no doubt that law enforcement bodies will get to the bottom of the incident and we wish the injured player a quick recovery and that she is back at a chessboard as soon as possible.”

The World Health Organization experiences that whereas publicity to mercury could be deadly, relying on the quantity current, it may well result in a number of different well being problems together with tremors, insomnia, reminiscence loss, neuromuscular results, complications and cognitive and motor dysfunction.