On Saturday, the invitation got here that the Hungarian Chess Federation and the Sports activities State Secretariat will maintain a joint press convention, at which sensational certifications shall be introduced. Nearly everybody instantly considered returning residence. Magyar Nemzet additionally contacted the grandmaster’s father, however he additionally denied the data to us.
Richárd Rapport thought issues over and returned residence Picture: Robert Ghement
On the identical time, it was already a telling incontrovertible fact that Rapport was not on the entry listing for the Bucharest Superbet chess event in June, simply as he was not on the sphere of the Grand Chess Tour in Romanian colours.
As soon as once more, Rapport solely modified flags, he didn’t take up Romanian citizenship
There was no buzz… On the press convention on Monday afternoon, it was introduced that Rapport Richárd would return to Hungary after two years. Likewise, as he left the Hungarian colours two years in the past: by altering the flag. Just a few weeks in the past, the chess participant himself denied that he had taken Romanian citizenship.
So, the final two years have been a nightmare in his profession, in his life. We hope, together with all its classes.
Nearly precisely two years in the past, it was revealed that Rapport was persevering with in Romanian colours. The Hungarian Chess Federation insisted on a three-month wait, so the then 26-year-old grandmaster completed eighth within the eight-person event of world champion candidates in the summertime of 2022 whereas nonetheless sporting Hungarian colours, after which he strengthened Romania on the Chess Olympiad. Professionally, regardless of the change, he was unable to advance, at present with 2715 Life Factors he’s solely twenty ninth within the rating of the worldwide federation, FIDE.
Rapport stated on the press convention that the second he had been ready for had come, he was grateful to be right here and really excited. Having the ability to let go of a bittersweet feeling is a giant stone off his coronary heart, and he thinks it would enhance his recreation as nicely. The purpose is to win on the Olympics.
Lékó returns after six years
On the press convention, it was additionally introduced that Péter Lékó may even return to the Hungarian nationwide workforce after a six-year absence. Lékó final performed within the Hungarian males’s workforce in 2018, on the Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.
Across the flip of the millennium, Lékó was ranked among the many prime ten on the earth rankings for a decade, and his greatest particular person end result was his 2004 World Championship closing in opposition to Vladimir Kramnyik, which he misplaced regardless of the 7-7 draw based on the principles. He’s at present seventieth within the rating with 2,666 stay factors, however everybody acknowledges his preparation, and he nonetheless has a great likelihood of competing with the excellence of the worldwide elite.
Péter Lékó revealed that he had his first dialog about his return with Zoltán Polyánszky, the president of the Hungarian Chess Federation, on Could 28 final yr, after which the breakthrough got here when Ádám Schmidt joined the negotiations in December. Lékó stated no for a very long time, as a result of his situation was that he would solely settle for the function if Richárd Rapport was additionally within the workforce.
– This second may be very touching for me, when a rustic trusts me a lot and desires me to return, it’s a big recognition. I’m blissful to be right here – stated Lékó.
The silver medal profitable Hungarian males’s workforce on the 2014 Chess Olympiad (from left): nationwide workforce captain Tamás Horváth, Richárd Rapport, Zoltán Almási, Csaba Balogh, Péter Lékó, in entrance of them Judit Polgár
Each Lékó and Rapport had been members of the Hungarian nationwide workforce that got here second within the Tromso Chess Olympiad in 2014, the final vital results of Hungarian chess. Judit Polgár and Zoltán Almási had been additionally members of the workforce at the moment – Csaba Balogh was the fifth participant – their return even after ten years could be the best reinforcement.
