♚ FIDE - World Chess Federation
The governing body of international chess competition, connecting chess players around the world since 1924
What is FIDE?
FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) is the international organization that connects the various national chess federations around the world and acts as the governing body of international chess competition. It's recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the supreme body responsible for the sport of chess.
FIDE governs all international chess competitions, establishes the rules of chess, calculates player ratings, awards titles like Grandmaster and International Master, and organizes the World Chess Championship. As of 2025, FIDE has 199 member federations, making it one of the largest sports organizations in the world.
History of FIDE
The fascinating journey of chess's global governing body:
Foundation
FIDE is founded in Paris during the first unofficial Chess Olympiad. Pierre Vincent of France becomes the first president. Initially has 15 member federations.
First Official World Championship
After Alexander Alekhine's death, FIDE organizes its first World Championship tournament, won by Mikhail Botvinnik, establishing the modern championship cycle.
Title System Introduced
FIDE introduces the Grandmaster (GM) and International Master (IM) titles, with 27 players receiving the GM title initially.
Elo Rating System
FIDE adopts the Elo rating system developed by Arpad Elo, providing an objective measure of player strength that revolutionized competitive chess.
Fischer Controversy
Bobby Fischer refuses to defend his title against Anatoly Karpov, leading to FIDE declaring Karpov World Champion by default, creating controversy.
Schism
World Champion Garry Kasparov breaks away from FIDE to form the Professional Chess Association (PCA), creating a rival world championship until 2006.
Reunification
The FIDE and "classical" world championship titles are reunified when Vladimir Kramnik defeats Veselin Topalov in the reunification match.
New Leadership
Arkady Dvorkovich becomes FIDE President, bringing reforms and modernization to the organization.
Chess Olympiad in India
Chennai hosts the first Chess Olympiad in India, marking FIDE's growing focus on developing chess in Asia.
Current Status
FIDE has 199 member federations, organizes over 100 official events annually, and oversees chess development worldwide with a focus on youth and technology.
FIDE Presidents
The leaders who have shaped international chess governance:
First FIDE President who established the organization's foundations during challenging post-WWI years.
Oversaw creation of the World Championship cycle and expansion to over 50 member federations.
Former World Champion who navigated the Fischer era and established the Elo rating system.
Grandmaster who modernized FIDE's tournament structures during the Cold War era.
Controversial figure who presided during the Kasparov split but expanded chess in developing nations.
Longest-serving president who stabilized FIDE but faced controversy over his political ties.
Former Russian Deputy PM who has brought transparency and modernization to FIDE.
FIDE Structure and Governance
How the World Chess Federation is organized:
General Assembly
- Supreme governing body of FIDE
- Meets annually during Chess Olympiad
- Each member federation has one vote
- Approves budget and elects leadership
Executive Board
- Implements decisions of General Assembly
- Composed of President, Deputy Presidents, and other officials
- Meets 3-4 times per year
- Oversees day-to-day operations
Commissions
- Rules Commission (handles chess rules)
- Qualification Commission (ratings/titles)
- Events Commission (tournaments)
- Trainers Commission (coaching standards)
- Women's Chess Commission
- Medical Commission
FIDE is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland (since 2003), maintaining offices in Athens and Moscow. It operates with an annual budget of approximately €10 million, funded through sponsorships, events, and member federation fees.
FIDE's Major Responsibilities
The key functions that make FIDE essential to global chess:
World Championship Cycle
- Organizes the World Chess Championship
- Manages Candidates Tournaments
- Oversees World Championship matches
- Coordinates with organizers and sponsors
Rating System
- Maintains the Elo rating system
- Publishes monthly rating lists
- Calculates ratings for over 500,000 players
- Develops new rating categories (rapid, blitz)
Title Awards
- Grants official titles (GM, IM, FM, CM)
- Sets title requirements and norms
- Maintains titleholder database
- Approves title applications
Tournament Oversight
- Sanctions international tournaments
- Organizes Chess Olympiads
- Conducts World Youth Championships
- Approves arbiters and organizers
Rules Standardization
- Maintains Laws of Chess
- Updates rules for digital era
- Handles anti-cheating measures
- Standardizes equipment requirements
Global Development
- Promotes chess in schools
- Supports developing chess nations
- Organizes training programs
- Facilitates chess for disabled players
FIDE's Major Tournaments
The crown jewels of FIDE's competitive calendar:
| Event | Frequency | First Held | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Chess Championship | Biennial | 1948 | Determines the World Champion in classical chess |
| Chess Olympiad | Biennial | 1927 | Team competition with national squads (Open and Women's) |
| World Cup | Biennial | 2000 | 128-player knockout tournament, part of World Championship cycle |
| World Rapid & Blitz | Annual | 2012 | Determines world champions in faster time controls |
| World Junior Championship | Annual | 1951 | For players under 20 years old (Open and Girls) |
| World Youth Championship | Annual | 1974 | Age-group competitions (U8 to U18) |
| World Senior Championship | Annual | 1991 | For players over 50 (50+ and 65+ categories) |
| Women's World Championship | Biennial | 1927 | Determines the Women's World Champion |
Olympiad Highlights
The Chess Olympiad is FIDE's flagship team event, with over 180 nations participating in recent editions. The 2022 Chennai Olympiad set records with 188 teams in the Open section and 162 in the Women's. India has hosted the Olympiad once (2022), while Russia/USSR has won the most gold medals (26 in Open, 14 in Women's).
FIDE Titles and Ratings
How FIDE recognizes and ranks chess players worldwide:
Title Hierarchy
- Grandmaster (GM) - 2500+ rating + norms
- International Master (IM) - 2400+ + norms
- FIDE Master (FM) - 2300+ rating
- Candidate Master (CM) - 2200+ rating
- Woman Grandmaster (WGM) - 2300+ + norms
- Woman International Master (WIM) - 2200+ + norms
Rating Categories
- Classical (standard time control)
- Rapid (15-60 minutes per player)
- Blitz (3-10 minutes per player)
- Separate lists published monthly
- Minimum 5 games needed for rating
Rating Statistics
- Over 500,000 rated players
- ~2,000 Grandmasters worldwide
- ~4,500 International Masters
- ~8,000 FIDE Masters
- ~15,000 Candidate Masters
India's Title Progress
India has seen explosive growth in FIDE titleholders - from just 1 GM (Viswanathan Anand) in 1988 to over 80 GMs in 2025. This reflects both Anand's inspirational role and India's investment in chess infrastructure. SPM Chess Academy has contributed to this growth with our strong training programs.
Our Title TrainingFIDE and India
The special relationship between FIDE and Indian chess:
Historical Milestones
- All India Chess Federation joins FIDE in 1928
- Viswanathan Anand becomes India's first GM in 1988
- Anand wins FIDE World Championship 2000
- India hosts first Chess Olympiad in 2022 (Chennai)
- India becomes top producer of young titled players
Current Status
- India has 80+ GMs (3rd most worldwide)
- Over 200 IMs and 950 FMs
- Produces most new titled players annually
- Hosting more FIDE-rated tournaments
- Strong presence in FIDE commissions
Future Initiatives
- Bidding for World Championship events
- Developing chess in rural areas
- Expanding school chess programs
- Training more arbiters and organizers
- Digital chess infrastructure development
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has called India "the most important chess development story of the 21st century" and has pledged increased support for Indian chess initiatives, recognizing the country's potential to become the world's leading chess nation.
Connect With FIDE Events