Nazí Paikidze not entered in 2019 US Chess championships

It seems she has not been visible since she won this tournament last year, but to not come back to defend her title seems strange.  Anyone know what is going on with her?  

I was wondering about that too.  But I know nothing, and my guesses are best left unsaid.

I wasn't thinking that, just curious.  I understand how life can change your priorities, especially in women's chess where it must be hard to put in all the time required, for what I imagine is not great payback.  But she is such a good player, and defending champ, so I'm sure it was not an easy decision to back away from it. 

Did you hear this somewhere or do you have some personal knowledge of her may I ask?  It is very hard to find any news about her.  

I wasn't thinking "nefarious," but I was hoping it wasn't some kind of health or personal issue. Thanks for the information. I'll miss seeing her play this year. She plays interesting chess

People who stop playing chess generally end up doing something else. It does not necessarily explain why they stopped.

She's the one who boycotted the 2017 Rapid & Blitz championship, supposedly to protest the hijab.  Then she did not show up for the 2018 Rapid & Blitz championship either, though there was no hijab.   Now it looks like she's retired completely.

So what was the point of acting all morally superior to the ladies who just wanted to show up and play some chess?  Turns out she was not sacrificing anything.  She probably would not have gone anyhow, it seems.

What a nasty, mean-spirited, and rather foolish post! Refusing to play in a tournament where women were required to wear religious head scarves is not "acting all morally superior," It's simply standing up for what you believe. Interesting how when someone stands up for their ideals, it seems to enrage a certain kind of person

I think you mean the 2017 Women's World Championship in Iran, where Nazi got a lot of publicity for boycotting.  The 2017 King Salman Rapid and Blitz in Saudi Arabia, is where the Muzychuk sisters got publicity for boycotting (over women's rights in general, there was no Hijab required).  Hikaru also boycotted that year.  For 2018 they changed it to St. Petersburg. Israeli players were not even allowed to come to the 2017 event, in a blatant show of bigotry.  More players should have boycotted IMO.  

I don't think Nazi was at King Salman, but I know of no statement she made about boycotting.  She just didn't go.  

Anyway, I'm not sure of your point.  She did give up the Iranian tournament to boycott.  She was active then and won the US championship after that.  Do you not think her boycott was sincere?  

I personally admire Nazi and the Mizychuks for standing up for human rights despite the controversy and how it must have come across to the other players who wanted to be there.  

The obvious guess wouldn't be anything nefarious... but rather that she and her husband had started something else, instead of a business venture.

I'm a mean parrot.  I also bite.

Yes, you're probably right about the specific events.  But Paikidze did not show up for the 2018 women's knockout championship either.

As for whether she is sincere, who knows?  In such situations, I tend to suspect it is being done for the publicity.

As for the Muzychuks, maybe they did it for the publicity too.  But somehow, the way they did it did not rub me the wrong way to the same extent.  IIRC, they merely explained why they had personally decided not to go, and did not organize a petition to spoil the fun for everyone else.  Also, the Muzychuks duly showed up for the next event, after their objections had been met.  Also, serious human rights abuses, and "I don't want to wear a headscarf" are different issues.  Paikidze made it all about the headscarf, and that just seems petty and clueless IMHO.   Also, the Muzychuks had a significant chance of actually winning these competitions, which I don't think is nearly as true of Paikidze.

My own general preference is that politics get left out of chess, at least to the extent that it not be allowed to prevent actual competition.  If Paikidze had gone to Iran, it would not have been to endorse Iranian policies but to (hopefully) beat the pants of the Iranian players (and others).

I'm not a fan of Paikidze for all kinds of reasons that are, ultimately, probably not particularly good reasons.  But it's a sport, and it's fun to root for the people you like, and against the people you dislike. 

I'm sad that Paikidze won't appear, because I would have been rooting for Krush and Zatonskih to demolish her.

"My own general preference is that politics get left out of chess, "  I agree--if only politics would keep it's filthy hands off! But sometimes we can't avoid politics. When Saudi Arabia hosts a World Championship, and them decides that players from certain countries won't be allowed to attend, well, there's no avoiding politics in that case, is there? 

We were discussing Nazi Paikidze's headscarf protest.  The Muzychuks are a different discussion.

Actually, we were discussing your general preference. But clearly enforcing a religious dress code on foreigners as a condition for participating in an international, official world championship event is inherently quite political

That just sounds like rhetoric to me.  But all the rhetoric in the world does not make a little deal into a big deal.

When in Rome do as the Romans do.  Wearing a headscarf is not a pledge of allegiance to Mohammed or to the local religious authorities.  It is merely following a local dress code.  Anyone can wear a head scarf, regardless of religious belief.

Local atheist women wear head scarves.  You can too do so too.  Local Christian women wear head scarves.  So can do so too.  Local Jewish women wear head scarves.  You can do so too.  You can do so if only to show respect for the local women.  Follow the same standards of modesty they follow, and don't try to upstage them, by showing off your fancy expensive hair-do.  Save your money, and let them save theirs.  Sounds reasonable to me.

Tolerance of other cultures is not absolute.  Some things are intolerable.  But for God's sake, if you cannot tolerate a headscarf for a week, there's not much you CAN tolerate.  If this is a big deal to you, don't ever call any other culture intolerant.  

@ChillyPolly ... I recall being involved in the hijab so-called "debate." I'm of the same sediment, the protest of certain players did nothing to further chess, and in fact was detrimental to advancing woman's chess long term. Ridiculous to not honor a local custom and make such an issue over the local dress code. Anyways, a year later, we have yet to see any active participation by Nazi, leaving one to surmise it was all just hot air... all show and no substance. I doubt see had any intentions of playing, regardless of the location of the event.

Players argued "safety" concerns . Well, it's far more dangerous in the city of Chicago. Feedback from after the event from players was all positive, saying it was a 1st class affair. 

I argued may as well protest an event requiring a man's "Tie."  (Research the symbolism of the tie, the representation of a man's power over woman in Western society.) Every culture has their own traditions. Boycotting over a dress code was silly and probably not sincere. 

To say it was a protest over "human rights or woman's rights" is nothing but a deflection. Just loud rhetoric, shouting much ado about nothing.

It is the culture's dress code. Nothing more. 

forked_again equating the issues with "public fornication" and it becomes evident his opinions are worthless.