FIDE Bars Russia from 2026 Chess Olympiad
The International Chess Federation FIDE did not allow the Russian team to participate in the Chess Olympiad, which will take place in September in Samarkand (Uzbekistan). This decision was made by the FIDE Presidential Council on August 23.
Consensus
- The FIDE President's Council decided on 23 August not to allow Russian teams to participate in the World Chess Olympiad.
- The 46th World Chess Olympiad will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 27 September 2026.
- Both the Russian men's and women's teams will not participate.
- The decision was communicated by Alexander Tkachev, Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation (RF Chess Federation).
- The Russian Chess Federation described the decision as a 'bucket of cold water'.
- The Russian Chess Federation had previously organized training camps for national team candidates in preparation for the Olympiad.
- Arkady Dvorkovich, former President of FIDE, suspended his duties after being added to the EU sanctions list in July.
- FIDE temporarily suspended Russia's membership in June due to competitions held on occupied Ukrainian territories.
- The decision was made despite earlier recommendations from the IOC and a prior FIDE vote allowing Russian and Belarusian teams to return under neutral status.
Points of divergence
- FIDE ignored both the IOC's recommendations and its own previous decisions regarding Russian athlete participation. — kommerant
- In December 2025, the FIDE Council recommended allowing Russian teams to compete under neutral status, and the FIDE General Assembly voted in favor of their return. — fontanka
- The situation was previously moving toward Russia's return to team competitions, but changed again in summer 2026. — fontanka
- The Russian Chess Federation described the decision as 'an ocean of cold water' for two reasons: the importance of the event and unmet expectations. — kommerant
- Tkachev stated that some members of the council prioritize personal interests over sports, and that they prevailed in this decision. — vedomosti
- The decision was confirmed by Ukrainian media. — tg_radiosvoboda
Coverage (8 sources)
- FIDE banned Russian chess players from participating in the World Olympiad — DW Главное
- FIDE stripped Russian grandmasters of the World Chess Olympiad — Коммерсантъ
- Russia will miss the chess Olympiad for the third time in a row — Фонтанка
- International Chess Federation FIDE did not allow Russian teams to participate in the chess Olympiad, which will take place in... — Радио Свобода
- FIDE Council did not allow the Russian team to participate in the Chess Olympiad — Ведомости
- FIDE did not allow Russian chess players to participate in the World Chess Olympiad — ЭХО / Новости
- Presidential Council FIDE did not allow chess players from Russia to the World Olympiad — Коммерсантъ
- Presidential Council FIDE did not allow the Russian team to the World Chess Olympiad, reported TASS executive director... — ТАСС (Telegram)
Key entities
- Russia
- FIDE
- FIDE
- Aleksandr Tkachev
- TASS
- Chess Federation
- Samarkand
- FSR
- Uzbekistan
- International Chess Federation
- Presidential Council
- Viswanathan Anand
- Media
- Ukraine
- Arkadiya Dworcovitch
More on Viswanathan Anand
- Businessman and President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Timur…
- Arkady Dvorkovich temporarily stepped down from his position as…