And they do more damage because they affect people’s reputations. But if it is a high government official, directly related to current events, his words are no longer personal. On the website, managed by the player’s assistants and admirers, there is a recent unsigned statement criticizing Filatov’s outburst: “We fully recognize anyone’s right to express their personal opinion. But I do not identify the Russian flag with the war, which horrifies me, but with my country, which I love.” If they force me to play under the FIDE flag, as when Russia was punished for the mass doping scandal, I will do it.

I understand to a certain extent the sanctions against Russian athletes, although I have serious doubts that they will help improve the situation.

That war is horrifying, a tragic catastrophe. But no Russian media of any relevance has echoed what Nepomniachtchi told EL PAÍS on April 9: “I signed that manifesto with my heart. His remarks about the war would be enough to send any normal citizen to jail immediately. The number-two player in the world on Sunday tied comfortably at the 10th game of the 14th scheduled against China’s Ding Liren at the World Chess Championship in Astana (Kazakhstan), where he is currently leading with a score level of 5.5-4.5. But another millionaire, Andrei Filatov, president of the Russian Chess Federation, criticized him a few days ago, following a defeat, for his insecurity: “He looks like a monkey with a hand grenade.” Despite his frontal opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, Ian Nepomniachtchi is supported by one of the richest men in Russia, Vladimir Potanin. Chess players often agree on the difficulty of performing at your best when other problems are boiling inside your head.

Year of wonders novel