NAGPUR: Iran-born French GM Alireza Firouzja, who is just half-point away from the last place in the Candidates chess tournament, complained about a “shameful action” by the chief arbiter Aris Marghetis. The 20-year-old expressed his anger on X after his ninth-round game against Ian Nepomniachtchi.
The top French player who was walking besides Nepo during the game was asked by the chief arbiter to wear softer shoes from the next round and spread his walking area after Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov complained about the noise Firouzja was making.
Firouzja wrote, “Shameful action by the chief arbiter Marghetis towards me during the game. Middle of the game, in the most intense moment when I was walking during a move from Ian, the chief arbiter came to me and told me to not walk anymore because my shoe is making noise on the wooden floor. He told me to not walk and bring new shoes for tomorrow, but I have the formal shoe that is approved and I have been wearing it for more than one year. This was a big distraction for me during the game and I completely lost my focus. I told one of the organisers that this arbiter needs to be punished.”
In his reply to chess.com, chief arbiter Aris Marghetis said: “Firouzja had a very heavy foot fall. It wasn’t just creaking. I don’t know what word to use, it was stompish. GM Nijat Abasov had complained to me about the noise Firouzja was making. So, I asked him if he could spread his walking area or consider wearing softer shoes for the next round.”
The arbiter added, “One thing I did find interesting was that after this exchange, he walked more softly. So, he was capable of walking more softly.”
The top French player who was walking besides Nepo during the game was asked by the chief arbiter to wear softer shoes from the next round and spread his walking area after Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov complained about the noise Firouzja was making.
Firouzja wrote, “Shameful action by the chief arbiter Marghetis towards me during the game. Middle of the game, in the most intense moment when I was walking during a move from Ian, the chief arbiter came to me and told me to not walk anymore because my shoe is making noise on the wooden floor. He told me to not walk and bring new shoes for tomorrow, but I have the formal shoe that is approved and I have been wearing it for more than one year. This was a big distraction for me during the game and I completely lost my focus. I told one of the organisers that this arbiter needs to be punished.”
In his reply to chess.com, chief arbiter Aris Marghetis said: “Firouzja had a very heavy foot fall. It wasn’t just creaking. I don’t know what word to use, it was stompish. GM Nijat Abasov had complained to me about the noise Firouzja was making. So, I asked him if he could spread his walking area or consider wearing softer shoes for the next round.”
The arbiter added, “One thing I did find interesting was that after this exchange, he walked more softly. So, he was capable of walking more softly.”
