Daniil Dubov playing chess: „I could miss the end of the world while analyzing the Italian opening.“ Foto: Jacek Prondzynski / Newspix / IMAGO
DER SPIEGEL: Mr. Dubov, you are one of the 44 Russian chess players who, in an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the beginning of March, called for an end to the war of aggression on Ukraine. Why did you decide to do this?
Dubov: You probably think that Russia is a bad country and we are bad people. But there is a large number of people who share the same values as you do in Europe. When the military actions started, it felt crazy, it was hard to believe. We were just shocked. When we published the letter, it felt good, like we could make a difference. Now it looks like it didn’t make a difference. By now you can’t even use the word „war” in Russia. Our letter was published before this new law, so at least we are not criminals.
DER SPIEGEL: Would you still say the word war now?
Dubov: No. Russian media wouldn’t be able to quote me then. It’s strange that a single word can get you into trouble.
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DER SPIEGEL: Do you personally also feel the West’s sanctions against Russia?
Dubov: I do feel them, but I can live with them. For example, I haven’t yet received my prize money for the first Grand Prix tournament in February because of the problems with banking transactions. Netflix and Instagram are blocked. Some of the medications became unavailable. But compared to the people who are really in trouble, these are of course no problems.
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DER SPIEGEL: Russian players are still allowed to play in tournaments, but not with your country’s flag. They now play with the flag of the world federation FIDE. What do you think of that?
Dubov: I find it strange. Everyone knows where I come from, where I live, which country I played for. To ban the flag for every Russian is like equating the whole country with the current government. I feel great when I play for Russia, but I don’t represent the Kremlin. I represent Dostoevsky and Chekhov – I represent the culture, the people.
DER SPIEGEL: FIDE has decided that the Olympiad, the most important team competition, will not take place in Moscow but in Chennai, India. Russian teams are excluded. How do you view this decision?
Dubov: In the current situation, FIDE had to make this decision. Because when we talk about FIDE, we are talking about business. In terms of finding sponsors, this is clearly a good move. But it is possible that there will be a team under a neutral flag, so Russians will be allowed to compete, just not under the Russian flag.
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DER SPIEGEL: You protested for the freedom of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny after he was arrested in early 2021.
Dubov: Yes, Alexander Grischuk and I were there. You probably think it took a lot of courage, but it doesn’t. It doesn’t change anything either. Basically, you wait for the police to take action and attack people. Then you go home. If you don’t leave in time, the police catch you. Then it becomes uncomfortable.
DER SPIEGEL: Has that happened to you too?
Dubov: That doesn’t matter now. Anyway, I didn’t go to the protests this time. I think it doesn’t achieve anything. With Navalny, I had the feeling that there was a chance that a very, very large group of people would send a message that would be heard. What is the goal now? Do people really think that the government will call off the troops because a few thousand people take to the streets? That may sound cynical, but quite honestly, I don’t want to be beaten for a goal for which I see no chance.
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DER SPIEGEL: Do you already have personal plans for the coming months?
Dubov: No. There’s not much to look forward to. I find it hard to think about my future in chess. Nuclear war could break out. I could miss the end of the world while analyzing the Italian opening.
