Putin has the last laugh….
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Anand and Gelfand will not be sent to a gulag as punishment for their lack of combativity in the just finished world championship! The news was met with great relief by the families of both gentlemen! There had been considerable anxiety when Putin summoned them to the Kremlin yesterday….
Anand and Gelfand will not be sent to a gulag as punishment for their lack of combativity in the just finished world championship! The news was met with great relief by the families of both gentlemen! There had been considerable anxiety when Putin summoned them to the Kremlin yesterday….
The players, however, were given a lesson in the language of diplomacy when Putin greeted them with a speech laced with subtle irony that is given in full on the FIDE link above. It began:
”Good afternoon, gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you.
First of all I want to congratulate both of you on your brilliant results and a great game that I am sure gave great enjoyment to chess fans around the world….”
REGRETTABLY, Mr. Putin did not specify which game he was referring to….
”Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions.”
Winston Churchill
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS