Russia's attack on Ukraine also affects Russian chess professionals. A number of players voiced criticism or signed an appeal for peace, and a number of top Grandmasters such as Nikita Vitiugov (pictured), Russian Champion of 2021, Alexandr Predke, Dmitry Andreikin and others, have left Russia to play under the FIDE flag, to change federations or to settle in other countries. | Photo: Nikita Vitiugov at the World Cup 2019 | Photo: FIDE