An icon in Turkmenistan

Thirty one years ago your web editor’s son, Nigel Short lost in the final of the Chess World Championship against Garry Kasparov and for a while was a minor celebrity in Britain but became a much bigger celebrity in scores of countries around the world.

Recently he went to Turkmenistan on behalf of his employer’s FIDE, the world chess federation and found that his visit was still a big event. No fewer than eight newspapers ran articles and he was also on television. Nigel has responsibllity for liaison with the chess organisations in 52 countries and he has now visited around 160 countries in his career either as a player or as a FIDE representative.

There are three things you may like to know about Turkmenistan. Firstly, it is very difficult to get access to as permission is only granted for about 40 foreigners per day, secondly all the buildings and cars are white (symbol of purity) and thirdly if you are wondering where in the Middle East it is located, it’s southern border is Iran.

Next up in his travels is the Marshall Islands in the Pacific and that is where older citizens will remember Britain tested a nuclear bomb after the Second World War. Not an easy place to reach, the Marshall Islands. It will take Nigel eight flights from his home in Athens, five of them island hopping. Last year his book, Winning, was voted the chess book of the year.