FIDE accused of bias against Russia as GM Lagno withdraws from Indian tournament, gets fact-checked by fellow players

Russian chess grandmaster Kateryna Lagno has accused the International Chess Federation, FIDE, of bias against her nationality, leading to her decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix India 2025 in Pune.

FIDE had earlier claimed that Lagno along with International Master Sara Khadem of Spain pulled out from the chess tournament in India due to “personal reasons,” however, the former has now debunked the explanation.

Lagno claims FIDE is bias against Russian players

In a letter written to FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and published on Facebook by Lagno’s friend and International Master Lilit Mkrtchian of Armenia, the Russian GM said that she had been insulted and humiliated by the jury at the 2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Monaco as they did not present her the prize for the most beautiful game.

Lagno asserted that she has “enough chess competence” to know her game deserved the prize for the most beautiful game, but claimed the jury chose otherwise because the award “just couldn’t go to a Russian player.”

Here’s Lagno’s full letter to Dvorkovich.

Dear Arkadiy Vladimirovich,

During Monaco stage of women Grand-Prix a very unpleasant incident happened. There was a special prize for the most beautiful game of the tournament. In round 4 I played and won one of the best games of my career against Elizabeth Paehtz. It was both hi quality and very spectacular.

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Unfortunately I couldn’t capitalise on that victory and spoiled the tournament lead at the end.

However during closing ceremony I was still in fine mood eagerly awaiting presentation of beauty prize.

Much to my shock and disappointment it was awarded to the game Kosteniuk-Tan Zhongyi. I believe I have enough chess competence to evaluate both my game and the award winner game. Yes, Aleksandra played fine, but it was spectacular only in a sense that black (Tan Zhongyi) made a completely unsound sacrifice, and white had a number of winning possibilities on each move.

Given that 2 members (out of 3) of jury are very competent players (Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Dana Reiznice) I can’t view their decision other than politically biased. The prize just “couldn’t” go toRussian player, and because of the lack of really great games, they chose a game that at least looks spectacular.

As I said, I find that decision insulting and humiliating and in view of that I refuse to play my final Grand-Prix stage in India.

My apologies to the chess fans and organizers of the Indian Grand-Prix.

Best regards,

Kateryna Lagno

Lagno gets fact-checked by fellow chess players

Lagno felt that her third-round game against German GM Elisabeth Paehtz deserved the award for most beautiful game but the award went to Russian-Swiss chess grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk who defeated China’s Tan Zhongyi in round three. Kosteniuk was awarded a Cartier luxury watch, which costs at least $3,700, as the prize.

Adding more context to the incident, Paehtz wrote on Facebook that “It’s my favorite loss But to understand the whole story, people should know the details.”

Paehtz informed that the prize was sponsored by Inna Bazhenova, who is also herself a Russian and the sponsor of the competition. Paehtz agreed that there was favouritism but it wasn’t inspired by nationality.

“What here may be interesting as facts itself, is, that Lagno has no ties to Monaco. Kosteniuk is not only a member of the Monaco chess club ; but won many events in Monaco,” Paehtz wrote on Facebook.

“She is the glory of Monaco chess for decades. Yet to me it looks still like a quick random choice of two games. I am sure it’s not political, but rather typical ignorance for details. Besides the organizer of Monaco voted for Katja!!!, while fide (Dana and Azmai) voted for Sasha. In general It’s tough nowadays to be a Russian, but Katja shouldn’t have refused the Indian WGP tournament for this reason. Ignorance hurts and her game was surly better than Sasha’s, and brilliant, but from my experience, officials never have time for details and let’s not forget, Kosteniuk did worse in the tournament.”

Kosteniuk also believed Lagno deserved the award but denied any political motive behind her own victory.

“If I had been voting, my choice would have been the Lagno-Paehtz game. While it wasn’t perfect, in my view, it was the most spectacular one. Nevertheless, I see no political background in the jury’s decision. I’m ready to publicly discuss such serious accusations only if any evidence is provided,” Kosteniuk told chess.com.

With Lagno currently at 13th in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Standings, her qualification for 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates looks almost impossible through the Grand Prix.