FIDE

international organization that connects the various national chess federations

The International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation, or[1] FIDE is the world chess organisation. All national federations are members. It decides matters like World Championships and changes in rules of the game.

FIDE was founded on 20 July 1924 in Paris, France. However, it had little influence until the end of World War II. The reigning world champion at that time, Alexander Alekhine, did not want to have anything to do with it. He regarded the world title as his personal property. This only changed when he died with the title, in 1946 (no other champion has ever died while holding the title). It was obvious that some method was needed to find a new champion. FIDE stepped in and, with Russian backing, put forward a solution. The strong Soviet Chess Federation only joined FIDE in 1946. It had a great influence, with resources and many young strong players.

After WW II

change

In 1948 a tournament was organized to determine which of the world top players was entitled to call himself World Champion. The death of Alekhine had left a vacuum. Two previous champions, Emanuel Lasker and José Raúl Capablanca had died in the late 1930s. It was clear that a new champion would come from the younger players.

The six players chosen by FIDE were:

In the end, Reuben Fine dropped out, and the other five contested the event. Mikhail Botvinnik won the tournament and became the new world champion.

FIDE World Champions (1948 - 1993) [2]

change

In 1950 the FIDE awarded its first IM (International Master) and GM (International Grandmaster) titles. However it was not until 1957 that FIDE formulated clear criteria to award these titles. In 1970 a new ranking system, the Elo-rating, was introduced.

Later years

change

With the collapse of the Soviet Union FIDE lost a powerful partner. This resulted in a long period of trouble. In 1993 worldchampion Gary Kasparov and his challenger Nigel Short left FIDE. They founded their own organisation for professional top players, the PCA (Professional Chess Association). So now there were two worldchampions: one from FIDE and one from the PCA. It was not until 2006 that the dust settled down and a re-unification match between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov took place.

FIDE World Champions (1993 to present)

change


In 1999 FIDE was recognised by the International Olympic Committee. In 2001 FIDE played by anti-doping rules, trying to make chess for like a candidate for the Olympic Games.


Women's World Chess Championship [3]

change
Years Name
1927 - 1944 Vera Menchik   Soviet Union -   Czechoslovakia -   United Kingdom
1950 - 1953 Lyudmila Rudenko   Soviet Union
1953 - 1956 Elisaveta Bykova   Soviet Union
1956 - 1958 Olga Rubtsova   Soviet Union
1958 - 1962 Elisaveta Bykova   Soviet Union
1962 - 1978 Nona Gaprindashvili   Soviet Union
1978 - 1991 Maia Chiburdanidze   Soviet Union
1991 - 1996 Xie Jun   China
1996 - 1999 Susan Polgar   Hungary
1999 - 2001 Xie Jun   China
2001 - 2004 Zhu Chen   China
2004 - 2006 Antoaneta Stefanova   Bulgaria
2006 - 2008 Xu Yuhua   China
2008 - 2010 Alexandra Kosteniuk   Russia
2010 - 2012 Hou Yifan   China
2012 - 2013 Anna Ushenina   Ukraine
2013 - 2015 Hou Yifan   China
2015 - 2016 Mariya Muzychuk   Ukraine
2016 - 2017 Hou Yifan   China
2017 - 2018 Tan Zhongyi   China
2018 - ....... Ju Wenjun   China

List of FIDE presidents [4]

change

References

change
  1. "International Chess Federation". www.fide.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  2. FIDE World Champions
  3. Women's World Chess Championship
  4. List of FIDE presidents