fide history

The British Chess Federation, and shortly thereafter, the Chess Organizations of Russia and Germany, initiated the creation of an international chess federation (the initiative was not realized due to the onset of World War I)

The International Chess Federation (FIE, later FIDE) was established.Founding countries: Argentina, Belgium, Britain, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Finland, France, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Yugoslavia.From June 12 to 20, an international team tournament took place—an unofficial Chess Olympiad (won by the team of Czechoslovakia; individual standings were topped by G. Matison from Latvia)

FIDE organized the first official Chess Olympiad, with the participation of 16 countries. The team from Hungary emerged victorious, receiving the rotating gold-plated Hamilton-Russell Cup

The title of Women's World Chess Champion was contested for the first time. Vera Menchik emerged as the winner

FIDE lifted the ban on the participation of chess professionals in the International Chess Olympiads

The last pre-war FIDE Congress and Olympiad (27 participating countries, won by Germany). The organization's activities were suspended due to the outbreak of World War II

The first post-war FIDE Congress had 9 participants. Plans for the restoration of FIDE and the creation of a world championship system were discussed (following the death of the reigning world champion, A. Alekhine)

The USSR, the leading chess power of that time, joined FIDE

FIDE conducted the first World Championship (M. Botvinnik became the world champion)

FIDE established the title of International Grandmaster (titles were awarded to 27 chess players: Bernstein, Boleslavsky, Bondarevsky, Botvinnik, Bronstein, Duras, Euwe, Fine, Flohr, Gruenfeld, Keres, Kostic, Kotov, Levenfish, Lilienthal, Maroczy, Mieses, Najdorf, Ragozin, Reshevsky, Saemisch, Smyslov, Stahlberg, Szabo, Tartakower, Vidmar)

The first three-year qualification cycle to determine the world's strongest chess player, established by FIDE (1948–1951), concluded with the Botvinnik–Bronstein World Championship match. Botvinnik retained his title

The first Women's Chess Olympiad was held (won by the USSR)

The number of participating teams in the World Chess Olympiad reached 50

A decision was made to celebrate July 20 (the day FIDE was founded) as International Chess Day

The official FIDE rating list was first published.The top 10: Fischer (2760), Spassky (2690), Korchnoi (2670), Larsen (2660), Polugaevsky (2640), Petrosian (2640), Portisch (2630), Botvinnik (2630), Smyslov (2620), Tal (2620).

Due to political reasons, parallel events occurred: the International Olympiad in Israel (48 participants) and the "Counter-Olympiad" in Libya (where representatives of Muslim countries played, 34 participants). The USSR and countries of the "socialist camp" ("Eastern Bloc") did not participate in either the Olympiad or the "Counter-Olympiad."

The number of participating teams in the World Chess Olympiad exceeded 100 (108 teams; the previous one in Thessaloniki'84 had 88)

The first recognized FIDE World Championship in rapid (blitz) chess. Anatoly Karpov emerged as the winner

Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short refused to play a world championship match under the auspices of FIDE, leading to a split and the simultaneous pursuit of two world champion titles

FIDE was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The unification match for the world championship title between Vladimir Kramnik (who defeated Kasparov in 2000) and Veselin Topalov (the FIDE world champion). Vladimir Kramnik emerged victorious

The first recognized FIDE World Championship in blitz chess. Alexander Grischuk claimed victory

FIDE introduced rating calculations for blitz and rapid chess

Arkady Dvorkovich was elected as the FIDE President (reelected in 2022)

FIDE officially recognized Chess 960 (Fischer Random Chess). The first world champion in Fischer's chess was Wesley So

The first Online Olympiad by FIDE due to the pandemic. Russia and India shared the first place

The 44th World Chess Olympiad – the first after the end of the Covid19 pandemic. A record number of teams and countries participated - 188 teams representing 186 FIDE member countries

The first-ever chess Olympiad for players with disabilities. Teams from 26 countries participated, and Poland took the first place

Budapest is hosting the 45th World Chess Olympiad. A record-breaking 188 teams in the Open section and 169 teams in the Women's section are participating.