'Long live Iran': France No. 1 chess grandmaster Alireza Firouzja shares powerful message amid unrest

NEW DELHI: French No. 1 chess grandmaster Alireza Firouzja gained global attention after a social media post. The post on X (formerly Twitter) read, “Long live Iran.”The message spread quickly online. Many fans linked it to unrest in Iran. Firouzja also shared the monarchial-era Iranian flag with the caption: "Live free or die". Many see this flag as a sign of resistance. Many also see it as a symbol of hope. Firouzja also shared the monarchial-era Iranian flag, which many see as a symbol of resistance and hope for change.The timing of the post matters. Iran is facing widespread anti-government protests. People across the country are demanding change. Rights groups say the situation is serious as they describe it as a humanitarian crisis. Authorities have reportedly shut down internet services. Phone services have also been restricted. This has cut millions off from the outside world. Dozens of people have reportedly died since the protests began. Global concern continues to grow. Many saw Firouzja’s message as support for ordinary Iranians. Firouzja is now a French citizen. However, his roots remain connected to Iran, where he was born on June 18, 2003. He is seen as one of the top chess talents of his generation. He became a grandmaster at age 14. He later broke Magnus Carlsen's record by becoming the youngest player to cross a FIDE rating of 2800.Firouzja’s journey has not been without challenges. In 2019, he left the Iranian Chess Federation due to Iran’s policy of refusing to compete against Israeli players. For a period, he played under the FIDE flag before becoming a French citizen in 2021 and officially representing France. Despite the change in nationality, his recent post shows that his emotional bond with Iran remains strong.