Russian chess gets dealt historic blow with federation's suspension over events in occupied Ukraine

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has suspended Russia's membership this week after the country's chess federation failed to comply with a ruling by the world's highest sports tribunal over its activities in occupied Ukrainian territories.

The suspension stems from a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as an official statement by FIDE reads.

The decision ordered the Russian Chess Federation (CFR) to cease all chess activities in the occupied Ukrainian regions of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia within 90 days or face automatic suspension from FIDE. The deadline expired on June 9.

Despite the ruling, CFR Executive Director Alexander Tkachev signalled that the federation had no intention of changing course.

"As a legal entity created and operating in accordance with Russian laws, the FSHR is subject to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and Russian legislation," he told state-controlled Russian news agency TASS.

On June 10, FIDE — headed by former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich — announced that Russia had failed to meet the deadline and that its membership was suspended with immediate effect.

In its statement, the FIDE Council stressed that it "reaffirms its commitment to protecting the rights and interests of individual chess players."

Under the decision, Russian youth players will still be allowed to compete under the Russian flag, while adult players will continue participating under the neutral FIDE flag.

The resolution also leaves open the possibility of Russian teams competing under a neutral banner at future FIDE team events. That could allow a Russian squad to take part in this year's 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan under the FIDE flag rather than Russia's national colours.

Meanwhile, a separate CAS case brought by five national chess federations challenging FIDE's decision to ease restrictions on Russian and Belarusian teams remains pending. A hearing is scheduled for June 18.

Russian state news agency TASS also quoted Russian Chess Federation President Andrei Filatov as saying the organization was reviewing the suspension and could challenge FIDE's decision.

Russian chess legacy

The decision marks a watershed moment for international chess as Russia has long been the sport's dominant power, producing generations of world champions and wielding significant influence within FIDE.

Russia's prominence in chess stretches back nearly a century. Grandmasters from Russia and other Soviet republics dominated the world championship from 1927 to 2007, with only brief interruptions by Dutch champion Max Euwe in the 1930s and American Bobby Fischer in the 1970s.

That dominance has faded in recent years. Only one Russian player currently ranks among the world's top 20, and in April, Russia's Andrei Esipenko finished last in the Candidates Tournament that will determine the challenger to reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju of India later this year.

The suspension also runs counter to a broader trend in international sport, where governing bodies have gradually begun easing restrictions on Russian athletes imposed first over the country's state-backed doping scandal and later following the war in Ukraine.

In recent months, sports including swimming, fencing and judo have announced plans to readmit Russian competitors, although many continue to compete under neutral status rather than the Russian flag.

By Nazrin Sadigova