Russian chess player faces lifetime ban over alleged mercury poisoning of opponent

According to a report by the Telegram channel Baza, a 30-year-old chess player, Umaiganat Osmanova, fell ill after someone allegedly spilled mercury near her chessboard, TASS reported. The incident occurred during a tournament earlier this month, and Osmanova reportedly began to feel unwell shortly afterward.

Alexander Tkachyov, the executive director of the RCF, stated that if the allegations are proven true, the accused player could face a lifetime ban from the federation.

A video later surfaced showing Amina Abakarova, a 40-year-old participant in the tournament, applying a substance to the table where Osmanova was set to play. Sazhid Sazhidov, president of the Dagestan Republic’s Physical Culture and Sports Department, confirmed that the substance contained mercury.

Osmanova described her symptoms to Russia Today, stating that she felt breathless and experienced a metallic taste in her mouth just minutes after sitting down to play. Medical examinations later confirmed that she had been poisoned with mercury.

Abakarova confessed to using mercury from a thermometer to target Osmanova, claiming she only intended to scare her and not cause any harm.