Russian Chess Player Caught on Camera Trying to Poison Rival with Mercury Before Match (Video)
Security camera footage has reportedly captured the moment when a Russian chess champion, Amina Abakarova, allegedly poisoned her younger rival, Umayganat Osmanova, with mercury during a tournament.
Abakarova, 40, confessed to pouring mercury near the chessboard where 30-year-old Osmanova was set to play during the Dagestan Chess Championship in Makhachkala, southern Russia. Osmanova fell ill with “severe dizziness and nausea” after participating in the match.
Abakarova is accused of secretly pouring mercury from a thermometer onto Osmanova’s board and smearing it with a chess piece. The tournament’s judge reported the incident to the police, and CCTV footage later appeared to show Abakarova near the board. She has since been detained and could face up to three years in prison if convicted.
The Minister of Sport in Dagestan, Sazhida Sazhidova, expressed her shock at the incident, stating, “Like many others, I am perplexed by what happened, and the motives of such an experienced competitor as Amina Abakarova are incomprehensible. The actions she took could have led to a most tragic outcome, threatening the lives of everyone who was present, including herself. Now she must answer for what she did by the law.”
According to reports citing law enforcement, Abakarova’s motive was “personal hostility” towards Osmanova, who had recently defeated her in a regional contest. Abakarova allegedly accused Osmanova of making rude remarks about her and her family behind her back.
Abakarova, who won the North Caucasus Federal District Chess Championship in Pyatigorsk last year, works as a chess coach and teaches at a school in Makhachkala. Her rival, Osmanova, runs her own chess school.
Despite the poisoning, Osmanova continued to compete in the tournament and even won a prize. She is now pushing for the “maximum punishment” for Abakarova. Abakarova faces charges of “intentional infliction of bodily harm.”
Friends of Abakarova have described her alleged behavior as “completely out of character.”
Watch the video below.
🚨🚨🚨A Russian woman tried to poison her opponent in Chess tournament with deadly Mercury in dust form and got caught on camera🚨🚨🚨
They just never stop doing it they, they are literally vile. pic.twitter.com/zPhWKMwWVG
— Bricktop_NAFO (@Bricktop_NAFO) August 8, 2024