The fourth FIDE President, Fridrik Olafsson, was born on this day in 1935 in Reykjavík. Serving a single term from 1978 to 1982, succeeding Max Euwe and preceding Florencio Campomanes, Olafsson left an indelible mark on the history of the organization. His tenure as FIDE President was the culmination of a remarkable career and a…

Following the FIDE 2024 General Assembly’s resolution GA 2024/20 regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in FIDE events, we wish to provide an update on our position and the decisions made by the FIDE Council. As instructed by the General Assembly, FIDE consulted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for guidelines about the possibility…

Following the resounding success of the 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York City, FIDE is excited to announce that the 2025 edition of these landmark tournaments will return to Doha, Qatar. The event is scheduled from December 25 to December 31, 2025, with the Rapid Championships taking place from December 26…

With regard to the recent communications from the “Freestyle Chess Players Club” (“FCPC”), FIDE states the following:   The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the only internationally recognized governing body of chess (in particular, by the International Olympic Committee), regulating all official international chess competitions. While we have always remained open to cooperation with private organizations…