Azerbaijani grandmaster Shahriyar Mammadyarov: "I will quit the national team"

"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.

"Firuza 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."