Iulija Osmak
Ukrainian Women’s Chess Champion
by John Bain
One day in March 2021 on a Thursday, the Ukrainian Women’s Chess Champion, Iulija Osmak, became a World Chess Champion. Iulija Osmak won the online 2021 University Women’s World Chess Championship!
Three days later, the FIDE–the International Chess Federation–and their Fair Play Panel removed her crown, insinuating she cheated.
Does Iulija Osmak Need to Cheat?
You Decide!
Iulija Osmak, 23 years old, was born March 6, 1998 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
In over-the-board, in-person play–prior to the covid-19 pandemic and the advent of online play–Iulija proved herself.
In 2012, Iulija won the World Chess Championship Under-12 Girls title.
In 2016, Iulija Osmak earned the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title.
In 2017, Iulija won the Ukrainian Women’s Chess Championship.
Also in 2017, she earned the International Master (IM) title.
Her current FIDE rating in Standard Classical Chess is 2428, in Rapid Chess is 2301 and in Blitz Chess is 2149.
Iulija Osmak was the highest rated player to enter the online 2021 University Women’s World Chess Chess Championship, which she won, after which, three days later, FIDE removed her crown after “suspecting” her of “a breach of fair play regulations!”
Likelihood of 20 Players Cheating?!
FIDE’s Fair Play Panel examined the games, held several meetings, then disqualified 20 female players from the World Chess Online Championship for breach of Fair Play.
The Fair Play Panel worked more than 70 hours analyzing 5,036 games, the Panel claimed, before arriving at their decision based on:
-Statistical Evidence
-Host Internet Platform (HIP) Evidence
-Physical Evidence
-Expert Opinion
Vague and Ambiguous?!
The Fair Play Panel, perhaps for legal reasons, is not claiming “proof of cheating” only “a breach of fair play regulations!”
For now, the Panel’s decisions will have no impact on the players competing in over-the-board events–other than tarnishing the players’ reputations.
2021 University World Chess Championship
However, the FIDE Fair Play Panel forfeited all of Iulija’s games in the tournament–along with 19 other women’s games–and removed Iulija’s newly won crown awarding it to runner-up Julia Antolak!
Standings BEFORE Iulija Osmak’s crown removed
The FIDE Fair Play Panel gave Iulija a forfeit loss for every game, and converted her opponent’s losses to draws.
Standings AFTER Iulija Osmak’s crown removed
Better Days
2017
Iulija Osmak
Ukrainian Women’s Chess Champion
FIDE’s Final Statement – More Confusion?!
“Neither FIDE, nor the Hosting Internet Platform claims that the determination of a suspected fair play violation is proof of actual cheating or an admission of guilt by the disqualified player. Such a determination shall not affect the ordinary status of the player for over-the-board competitions within the jurisdiction of FIDE or its members, unless FPP decides in the case of a clear or gross violation, or repeated violations, to refer the matter to the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission which may exclude the player from all official chess participation for a period up to 15 years. “
Susan (Zusuzsa) Polgar Comments
“This is what I really do not understand. So if one is ‘not’ accused of cheating then why is the score erased? And how is it possible that the players can’t defend themselves? Very confusing!” -Susan Polgár
-Susan Polgár is a Hungarian-born American chess Grandmaster. She is a former Women’s World Chess Champion, a chess teacher, coach, writer, promoter and the head of the Webster University chess program in St. Louis, Missouri.
MOST AMAZING CHESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In July 1984 at the age of 15, Susan became the top-ranked woman player in the world, and remained ranked in the top three for the next 23 years!
She was also the first woman in history to break the gender barrier by qualifying for the 1986 Men’s World Chess Championship cycle.
Susan was the Women’s World Chess Champion from 1996 to 1999–in Classical Chess time control. She also won the World Blitz and Rapid Championships in 1992. In October 2005, Susan had a rating of 2577, making her the #2 ranked woman in the world at the time, after her younger sister Judit.
Learn to play chess like Iulija Osmak plays chess! >
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