Vladimir Kramnik is worse than dirt: Daniel Naroditsky | Chess News
America’s chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky has called former world champion Vladimir Kramnik “worse than dirt” following another accusation of cheating in the ongoing World Rapid and Blitz Championship. Talking on “Take Take Take,” Naroditsky how the accusations and social media crusade against him has affected him every time he plays online chess.
“It’s definitely… I mean, I don’t think I’m good… You know, not good enough of a person, but thick-skinned enough to say, honestly, that that isn’t affecting me at all,” he said.
“I would be, you know, failing the lie detector test if I said that.
“I’ve been nice and civil and courteous to this army of troglodyte lowlifes for way too long. I’m really sick of it. I’m not going to tolerate any of the hate any longer.
“Kramnik is worse than DIRT” @GmNaroditsky pic.twitter.com/WAY2xfJhHj
— Take Take Take (@TakeTakeTakeApp) December 30, 2024
“It’s definitely been infuriating for the fans to be flamed either players who are too cowardly or, you know, too into the drama to make it clear that the patients shouldn’t run the facility in the chess world. Or, conversely, just like… There’s this hierarchy in the chess world where we give so much respect to people with a high rating and people with accomplishments. And they are deserving of respect.
“But when a certain line is crossed, we’re all equal as humans. So that this has been happening and keeps getting perpetuated is… It’s really a shame and it’s seen as a dark chapter in chess. Not because of me personally.
“It doesn’t matter that it’s me. I’m not requesting any sympathy. But the fact that this has been going on for as long as it has is frankly pathetic and sad.
“But, you know, just as pathetic as the people perpetuating it. So it’s affecting me a little bit. But I’m trying to push it aside and just play a tournament and have fun.”
Naroditsky accepted that the accusations has affected his personal relationships with top players.
“I feel like it would be improper for me to say that I am owed any support anybody. Like, you don’t have to get your feet dirty. You know, get your hands into the dirty swamp.
“I totally get that. Unfortunately, I think there’s a lot of two-facedness in the chess world. Sorry, I’m not too eloquent.
“A lot of players are on the surface very supportive. But behind the scenes, I think, are kind of either fanning the flames or hold their own suspicions. I completely understand that online chess is a new sphere.
“There’s legitimate suspicions to be had. Which is why, when this all started happening, I went not just the extra mile. I went the extra, what’s more than a mile? Kilometres? Less than a mile? I went the extra 10 kilometres.
“I went the extra 10 kilometres to do everything I could to put top players at ease. Because I totally get it.
“I’m, you know, cut from the same cloth. But that that has only somehow fanned the flames is just insane. And definitely I wish the top players were a little bit more outspoken.
“I do wish that that were the case. I don’t think I’m owed that. But, you know, the patients have been running the facility, once again, for way too long.
“And too many influential people with a lot of followers are either way too obsequious, or way too respectful, or sitting on the fence. But what has been happening, I mean, this atmosphere of constant accusations, goalpost shifting is worse than cheating.
“Cheating, in my mind, is probably the worst crime a chess player can commit.
“It’s a reputation-ending crime to do it as a grandmaster. But to do what, you know, what Kramnik has done and what everybody who supports him have done, in my mind, morally, it makes you worse than dirt.”
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