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Published 11:28 IST, November 25th 2024

Controversy Strikes Chess Tournament In Uzbekistan, Vantika Agrawal's Draw Tuns Into Shocking Loss

Controversy struck the President's Cup chess tournament in Uzbekistan as India's Vantika Agrawal's draw was turned into a loss due to a bizarre rule.

Reported by: Arihant Rai
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Vantika Agrawal
Vantika Agrawal | Image: Screengrab from X
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It was a disappointing day for Indian chess player Vantika Agrawal as controversy struck her chess match in the President's Cup taking place in Uzbekistan. In a match that had ended in a draw, her draw was overturned into a loss off a bizarre rule as the tournament was struck with controversy. Vantika Agrawal took to social media to protest the unfortunate incident and how her draw had been changed into a loss due to the arbiter's fault. 

Vantika was playing against Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov of Uzbekistan in the third round of the tournament. 

Vantika Agrawal Takes To Social Media To Protest Unfair Decision 

Vantika Agrawal took to social media to protest against her draw being turned into a loss. She spoke out against the bizzare rules and how there was no way to get the decision overturned.  

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“My game in 3rd round of President’s Cup in Uzbekistan ended as a draw. I submitted the scoresheet with the right result. Then when I checked the pairing (for round 4) it was published as a loss for me. I immediately mailed them and informed them but they said that it’s FIDE’s rule that they can’t do anything. 

“So I want to ask FIDE why they made such a rule. If it’s arbiter’s mistake why should I suffer I have spent lots of money to play this tournament,” said Vantika Agrawal as she protested on social media. 

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Following no action taken, she decided to withdraw from the tournament. 

Vantika Agrawal Withdraws From President's Cup, Uzbekistan 

Following her protests on social media, Vantika decided to withdraw from the tournament as he put up another update on social media. 

“I have withdrawn from the tournament. I can’t continue playing in a tournament where wrong result and pairings has been published because of arbiter’s fault and there is no way to correct it inspite of immediate information. There is no guarantee that this will not happen again,” said Vantika Agrawal as she announced her decision to withdraw from the tournament. 

Updated 11:28 IST, November 25th 2024