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Fundraising Carlsen simul for Dusan Popovic

PeterDoggers
| 0 | Chess Event Coverage
Already in April this year it became known that Serbian GM Dusan Popovic was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure, and is hoping for a transplant soon. Next Monday, August 11th, Magnus Carlsen will play a fundraising simul on ICC to help him.

On April 11, at the of the Serbian Chess Federation a message was published in which the international chess community was addressed.

As Chessdom reports, several fundraising chess tournaments have been organized since then, in which the entry fees went to Popovic. Now the ICC has organized a fundraising simul by Magnus Carlsen.

The simul will start online on Monday, August 11, 2pm U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (7pm in the U.K. (BST) and 8pm in Norway and central Europe (CET)). Internet Chess Club is offering on eBay 18 seats to play in the simultaneous exhibition. Twelve seats will be sold in a Dutch Auction, and six seats are offered in this listing at a fixed price. Viewing or bidding for a seat is still possible.

World Champion Viswanathan Anand has expressed his support as well:

I was really saddened when I first heard of GM Dusan Popovic's plight. At such a young age, he has to confront a serious health condition that needs a lot of courage and persistence to combat. I wish him all the best. As a chessplayer, we all know what it is to fight. I am sure he will use these fighting skills he would have honed over the chessboard.

While I know Dusan will be receiving unstinting support from his family and friends, I congratulate Magnus Carlsen in stepping forward in his hour of need with his spontaneous and magnanimous gesture to play on the Internet Chess Club to help the cause.

It is also nice to see the next generation coming together for a cause that is far greater than the game itself. It is, as Dusan himself states, to be a "game of life" and I am sure the whole chess community will come together as one to participate and contribute to the fundraising efforts on ICC. For my part, I personally pledge $750 to the fund and urge everyone to contribute what they can on the day.

My prayers, thoughts and best wishes are with Dusan and his family during this time and I am sure, like me, the chess community would all wish to see his return to active duty at the chessboard as quickly as possible.

Regards, Viswanathan Anand
PeterDoggers
Peter Doggers

Peter Doggers joined a chess club a month before turning 15 and still plays for it. He used to be an active tournament player and holds two IM norms.

Peter has a Master of Arts degree in Dutch Language & Literature. He briefly worked at New in Chess, then as a Dutch teacher and then in a project for improving safety and security in Amsterdam schools.

Between 2007 and 2013 Peter was running ChessVibes, a major source for chess news and videos acquired by Chess.com in October 2013.

As our Director News & Events, Peter writes many of our news reports. In the summer of 2022, The Guardian’s Leonard Barden described him as “widely regarded as the world’s best chess journalist.”

In October, Peter's first book The Chess Revolution will be published!


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