Tidbits on Dvorkovich
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
For my readers who have been following the Karpov2010 campaign ( FIDE presidential election campaign), then undoubtedly you would have heard of Arkady Dvorkovich, head of the Russian Chess Federation (RCF). He is also a member of the young generation that is re-shaping Russia, very closely associated with the highest echelons of power in the Kremlin.
Arkady is known as a no-nonsense type of person who has no problem labelling the colourful and sometimes cartoon-like election antics of the 2 K’s (Karpov and Kasparov) for how he sees it: illegitimate. Put in charge of re-structuring the Russian Chess Federation (re: Russian President Medvedev’s decree to revamp, clean house, restructure and/or rid sports federations of corruption in the wake of the disasterous performance of Russian athletes at the Vancouver Winter Games), Dvorkovich’s initiatives have the full backing of the Russian president. The drama-filled, paparazzi-seeking actions of the 2 K’s at a failed meeting of the Russian Chess Federation might, unfortunately, now be viewed by the Kremlin as part of the the chronic corruption in the federation itself. Late last week the RCF offices were sealed and the bank account frozen pending a new Congress that will elect new officials. The old ways that saw the 2 K’s wield cult-like influence and sometimes be able to act above the law itself is now a thing of the past…at least inside of Russia.
Arkady Dvorkovich
Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation. Executive Secretary of the Commission for Modernisation and Technological Development of Russia’s Economy. Deputy Chief of the Council for Implementation of the Priority National Projects attached to the President of the Russian Federation.
Born on May 26, 1972 in Moscow. His father, Vladimir, was an international chess arbiter.
In 1994 graduated from Moscow State University with a Master degree in economics. 1994-1997 – worked as an expert in the Expert Group of Russia’s Ministry of Finance.1997-2000 – Head of the Economic Expert Group of Russia’s Ministry of Finance.
Since August of 2000 – Adviser of the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Since 2001 – Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade.Since April of 2004 – Head of the Presidential Experts’ Directorate of the Presidential Executive Office.
Since May 13, 2008 – Aide to the President.
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INTERESTING PHOTOS
From his highschool days
Joking around on stage
You should be able to recognize Dvorkovich in the above photo!
A young Arkady Dvorkovich holding a flag during a school ceremony (3rd from left)
Last day of school
With Chelsea owner Abramovich in Moscow last year
At work advising Medvedev
A charity game
Dvorkovich is at the far right
Prize giving ceremony
Karpov, Dvorkovich, Zhukov. GM Glek standing
Dvorkovich, Zhukov playing Kramnik in a simul
Central Chess Club. Leko, Svidler, Kramnik, Morozevich, Dvorkovich
Dvorkovich at home with his son
Dvorkovich and son, Central Chess Club last year
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Any influential and strong personality is bound to have enemies. Earlier this year Dvorkovich was invited to speak to the Stanford group, and one critic decided to write a very long article that attacked him in virtually every possible way without even once referring to what Dvorkovich actually said!
This long article begins with (and ends) some great cheap shots at Dvorkovich. Sample this crap:
”This gentleman came to California, to address the Stanford group, as we call them, and to present them with a load of bullshit. Not only is it a load of bullshit, which would not require much comment—simply to say it’s there, or bury it, or something like that—but it has strategic implications, because he is, officially, a key advisor to the President of Russia. And what he says, in his writings, as in his activities here, shows a sheer incompetence of a type I understand—which is presently a threat to civilization coming from the corruption that his remarks represent, or typify, inside Russia’s policy.
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See, that’s the actual, essential criminality, which has infected Arkady Dvorkovich. Chess-playing is not the secret of civilization. I played chess, I can tell you. I played Kriegspiel, I enjoyed it—then I said, it was disgusting, because I realized it takes you no place. You’re playing different games, you’re getting different strategies for the board, different techniques for interpreting in Kriegspiel, how you infer what the other guy is intending to do. You do all this stuff. But in the end, what have you accomplished? You’re playing in a zero-sum game. Like all other zero-sum games. And that’s not a good profession!
And maybe you are going to find out, when you take into account friction, Arkady Dvorkovich is playing less a than zero-sum game.
So I’m not accusing him of being a bad person—just an ignorant one. Thank you.”
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So it is not just the Karpov campaign that writes crap about the young Russian Dvorkovich!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS