Cuban Chess Federation Opposes to Dominguez’s Decision

‘We do not accept that Leinier changes Federation or plays for any other country. It is not a matter of compensation, it is a matter of principle,’ the FCA said in a statement released by the sports digital weekly Jit.

Dominguez had been inactive for two years at the behest of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) and did not enter any international competitions in that period, alleging personal situations.

For that reason, he was no longer a member of the national team by not participating in the Capablanca Memorial International Tournament of 2018 and was excluded from the team to the 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, from September 23 to October 6.

According to the main chess institution in Cuba, Dominguez’s decision to become a US citizen was made ‘at the request of the player and under the prerogatives of FIDE.’

‘Given the current scenario of the change of federation, the FCA has informed FIDE ‘its disagreement with this decision,’ the entity said. Last April, Cuban chess commissioner Carlos Rivero clarified that Dominguez, who came to be among the top 10 in the world ranking, maintained a ‘constant communication’ with the authorities and wanted to continue representing Cuba as soon as he resolved his personal situation.