Top chess body rejects readmitting Russia, Belarus

The top body in chess on Sunday rejected a proposal to readmit Russia and Belarus, but will consider allowing players under 12 or with disability to take part in events.

Russia and Belarus were kicked out of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in 2022 over the Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, effectively excluding them from international competitions.

On Sunday, a Kyrgyz proposal to readmit Russia and Belarus failed to get enough votes to pass at the general assembly.

“After careful consideration, the majority of the FIDE council members have concluded that the current circumstances do not provide sufficient grounds to support the motions from the Kyrgyz chess union,” said a FIDE council statement before the vote.

The FIDE general assembly did however vote in favour of allowing the body’s council to explore the possibility of letting Russian and Belarusian players under 12 or with disabilities compete.

This followed a FIDE council recommendation, which had called for “a balanced and humanitarian approach”.

The council added it would first discuss that move with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee.

“We believe this approach upholds FIDE’s commitment to inclusivity while respecting the international framework,” the council said. 

Former world champion Magnus Carlsen had urged the sporting body not to readmit Russia and Belarus at a FIDE gala on Thursday to honour another former world champion, Garry Kasparov.

Kasparov, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin who has lived in exile for more than a decade has also argued against lifting the ban.

Norwegian Carlsen, 33, is a five-time world chess champion, having won consecutive FIDE competitions from 2013 to 2021 before declining to defend his title.

He is still the world’s top-ranked player.