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The Times (UK)
June 06, 2006
How dare you take my queen?
By Rajeev Syal and Raymond Keene
Battle of the chess grandmasters as leading England player 'attacks'
rival over dancefloor move
[Picture]Arianna Caoili, Australia No 3 - described as the Anna
Kournikova of chess.
FOR one British grandmaster, his rival had made a move too far. Danny
Gormally, one of Britain's leading chess players, allegedly attacked the
world No 3 at an international tournament for dancing with a beautiful
Australian player.
Levon Aronian, leading light of the Armenian chess scene, was apparently
punched and shoved, and ended up on the floor during a party at the
recent Chess Olympiad in Turin.
He had been spotted jiving with Arianne Caoili, 19, an Australian
grandmaster known as the Anna Kournikova of the chess world. Mr Gormally
was known by team-mates to be fond of her.
But the next day, after the England captain apologised to the Armenian
team, the repercussions continued. When Mr Gormally went out for a
coffee with friends, he was attacked by a group of young Armenian
players seemingly bent on revenge for their star player.
The unseemly events are expected to lead to an urgent inquiry by the
English Chess Federation into Mr Gormally's behaviour. He was advised to
leave the tournament early to avoid further confrontation.
Allan Beardsworth, the England captain, said that drink appeared to play
a part. "Danny seems to have punched Aronian for innocently dancing with
a girl that he liked. The following day, there was a retaliatory
incident. It is a shame, and something that we will have to look into
properly," he said.
The Olympiad is held every two years between 150 international teams and
brings together the world's best players. While the tournament went
badly for Mr Gormally and the England team, the Armenians eventually won.
The party was held four days ago at a nightclub called "Hiroshima Mon
Amour". Mr Gormally, 30, from Durham, spotted Ms Caoili, with whom he
had struck up an e-mail relationship, according to colleagues. They are
also known to have met in London.
Ms Caoili, a child prodigy of Filipino descent who has ambitions of
becoming a professional singer, was dancing "energetically" with Mr
Aronian. She is ranked No 3 in Australia. Mr Aronian, 23, often referred
to as a future world champion, is adored in his country where chess is
the national sport.
For Mr Gormally, the sight of the pair dancing was apparently too much -
but his actions were unjustified, according to Mr Beardsworth. "I have
spoken to several people who were there, and there is no doubt that
Danny was in the wrong. Aronian is a lovely guy and at the very peak of
his national sport. I have been told that he is treated like David
Beckham at home," he said.
The England team's management was informed of the incident and held an
impromptu meeting. By 11am the next day, it had apologised to the
Armenian team leader, who also happens to be the country's defence
minister. There is no suggestion of any criminal inquiry.
Mr Gormally was informed, and hoped that the incident was over. However,
when he went out with friends for a coffee, he was spotted by young
chess players from Armenia. "They set upon Danny - he was hit several
times. Luckily, one of the team-mates with Danny could speak Russian and
managed to calm them down," Mr Beardsworth said.
Denis Jessop, president of the Australian Chess Federation, said that he
may launch his own inquiry. "I have heard that an incident took place
and that Aronian was thumped and that it was over Arianne."
"I am not surprised at anything that chess players do. It is not the
first time that there's been an argument at a chess tournament and
people have hit each other," he said.
Mr Gormally, 30, a professional player, declined to comment from his
home, where he lives with his parents. On asked why he had been sent
home, he replied: "It's personal. It's nothing to do with you."
June 06, 2006
How dare you take my queen?
By Rajeev Syal and Raymond Keene
Battle of the chess grandmasters as leading England player 'attacks'
rival over dancefloor move
[Picture]Arianna Caoili, Australia No 3 - described as the Anna
Kournikova of chess.
FOR one British grandmaster, his rival had made a move too far. Danny
Gormally, one of Britain's leading chess players, allegedly attacked the
world No 3 at an international tournament for dancing with a beautiful
Australian player.
Levon Aronian, leading light of the Armenian chess scene, was apparently
punched and shoved, and ended up on the floor during a party at the
recent Chess Olympiad in Turin.
He had been spotted jiving with Arianne Caoili, 19, an Australian
grandmaster known as the Anna Kournikova of the chess world. Mr Gormally
was known by team-mates to be fond of her.
But the next day, after the England captain apologised to the Armenian
team, the repercussions continued. When Mr Gormally went out for a
coffee with friends, he was attacked by a group of young Armenian
players seemingly bent on revenge for their star player.
The unseemly events are expected to lead to an urgent inquiry by the
English Chess Federation into Mr Gormally's behaviour. He was advised to
leave the tournament early to avoid further confrontation.
Allan Beardsworth, the England captain, said that drink appeared to play
a part. "Danny seems to have punched Aronian for innocently dancing with
a girl that he liked. The following day, there was a retaliatory
incident. It is a shame, and something that we will have to look into
properly," he said.
The Olympiad is held every two years between 150 international teams and
brings together the world's best players. While the tournament went
badly for Mr Gormally and the England team, the Armenians eventually won.
The party was held four days ago at a nightclub called "Hiroshima Mon
Amour". Mr Gormally, 30, from Durham, spotted Ms Caoili, with whom he
had struck up an e-mail relationship, according to colleagues. They are
also known to have met in London.
Ms Caoili, a child prodigy of Filipino descent who has ambitions of
becoming a professional singer, was dancing "energetically" with Mr
Aronian. She is ranked No 3 in Australia. Mr Aronian, 23, often referred
to as a future world champion, is adored in his country where chess is
the national sport.
For Mr Gormally, the sight of the pair dancing was apparently too much -
but his actions were unjustified, according to Mr Beardsworth. "I have
spoken to several people who were there, and there is no doubt that
Danny was in the wrong. Aronian is a lovely guy and at the very peak of
his national sport. I have been told that he is treated like David
Beckham at home," he said.
The England team's management was informed of the incident and held an
impromptu meeting. By 11am the next day, it had apologised to the
Armenian team leader, who also happens to be the country's defence
minister. There is no suggestion of any criminal inquiry.
Mr Gormally was informed, and hoped that the incident was over. However,
when he went out with friends for a coffee, he was spotted by young
chess players from Armenia. "They set upon Danny - he was hit several
times. Luckily, one of the team-mates with Danny could speak Russian and
managed to calm them down," Mr Beardsworth said.
Denis Jessop, president of the Australian Chess Federation, said that he
may launch his own inquiry. "I have heard that an incident took place
and that Aronian was thumped and that it was over Arianne."
"I am not surprised at anything that chess players do. It is not the
first time that there's been an argument at a chess tournament and
people have hit each other," he said.
Mr Gormally, 30, a professional player, declined to comment from his
home, where he lives with his parents. On asked why he had been sent
home, he replied: "It's personal. It's nothing to do with you."