[romwell]

Russian Chess has, and always has been, a tool in their international politics. As is any sport on a national level.

The war has affected Russia's ability to participate in sports on the international level. The war has relevance to the discussion of sports, including chess, absolutely everywhere - except HackerNews, it seems.

>Also Russia has plenty of legitimacy, both before and after the Ukraine invasion

No pain in admitting it. It still has legitimacy (as did Nazi Germany up until it lost the war).

It should have none.

[0x737368]

No, you can spin politics on top of sport, but sport is sport. It's been an excuse for a long time for the West to discriminate Russian athletes for no other reason than them being born in Russia - in a more civilised place this would be seen nothing other than bigotry.

First they used doping as an excuse, with the West of course turning a blind eye on their own athletes' rampant use of PEDs and now they use the war with which the Russian athletes have nothing to do with. I'm sure Putin is shaking this whole time and is just about to tap out out of the war because a young athlete who has dedicated their whole life to excel at a sport and their potential having a VERY limited shelf life can no longer participate.

Think about what you're saying sometimes, buddy.

> It should have none.

Cry harder :,(