A Russian chess-player faces jail time after a video shows her allegedly poisoning an opponent with mercury.

In scenes that evoke the glory days of chess in the 20th century, when rumours of subterfuge, sabotage and other dark tactics were rife, a Russian chess player was suspended from the game, and could face up to three years behind bars for poisoning an opponent... on camera.

The Dagestan Chess Championship was held on August 2, and the first to report it was a Russian Telegram channel. Government media only followed suit after that. Amina Abakarova was a 40-year-old Russian Republic of Dagestan player who was scheduled to face Umayganat Obsmanova. This 30-year-old longtime competitor had just beaten Abakarova in a tournament a week earlier. The pair had been friends for many years and were recently involved in a close match that went to Osmanova.

Around 20 minutes before kickoff, Abakarova was caught on camera approaching the table and smearing liquid Mercury from a thermometer all over the chess pieces and board. According to Chess.com Abakarova asked before the match whether cameras were used at the venue and was told that they weren't.

Liquid mercury in thermometers is dangerous when it touches the skin. However, the real danger comes from inhalation, or worse, swallowing, which can be fatal. Osmanova complained of feeling nauseous, dizzy and unwell about 30 minutes after the game started. Doctors were called who determined that poisoning was the likely cause. After reviewing the security footage, the police were contacted and Abakarova arrested.

Osmanova, the victim, later admitted that she felt "terrible and disgusting" after learning she had been poisoned. She also said another player had fallen ill. "In the beginning, I felt like there was no air in my lungs and I had a taste of metal in my mouth. I spent about five hours on the board. I don't even know what I would have done if I hadn’t seen it sooner."

According to Russian media Abakarova confessed "personal hostility" toward Osmanova and added that she wanted "to knock her out of tournament." If she is found guilty of the attempted murder, she could face up to three years behind bars. The Russian Chess Federation temporarily suspended her, and is likely to ban her from the game for life pending its own investigations.

Sazhid Sazhidov said that the motives of a competitor with such experience as Amina Abadkarova were incomprehensible. "The actions that she took could have had a tragic outcome, endangering the lives of all those present, including her own. She must now answer to the law for what she did."

Malcolm Pein, of the English Chess Federation, said: "I've not seen anything like that before." This is the first time I've heard of someone using a toxic substance in the history of chess.

Oliver Carroll, The Economist, said: "I'm aware that Russian doping is only 7 out 10. But still ..."

Osmanova recovered from her treatment and finished the tournament in second place. Abakarova has been expelled.