Echesspedia

Federation Internationale des Echecs, one of the international governing bodies of chess.

Founded in Paris on 20 July 1924, the World Chess Federation (Federation Internationale des Echecs, known as FIDE from its French acronym) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the supreme body, responsible for the organisation of chess and its championships at global and continental levels.  Following its recognition as an International Organisation in 1989, FIDE was recognised by the IOC in June 1999 as an International Sports Federation.

Prior to the founding of FIDE, chess had existed as a sport played at competitive level for centuries.  In its over 2000 years history from its origins in India and outlying countries in Asia, the game had undergone a series of changes and metamorphosed into its present day from by the 15^th century. In those days, there was no common code governing the Laws of Chess or uniform regulations for international competitions, the only binding forces were that it was a gentleman’s sport in which the players were expected to act in a certain form of decorum and the enduring beauty of the game to its practitioners.

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Today, FIDE with a membership of 170 countries is one of the most dynamic sports organisations in the world.  It brings together men and women of different races, creeds and political persuasion as it carries out its main task of developing the activities of millions of chess players around the world.

The purpose and aim of FIDE are the diffusion and development of chess among all nations of the world, as well as the raising of the level of chess culture and knowledge on a sporting, scientific, creative and cultural basis.

FIDE supports a close international cooperation of the chess devotees in all fields of chess activity, thereby also aiming to improve friendly harmony among people.

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FIDE issues the rules of chess and the provisions pertaining to the organisation of the Chess Olympiad, World Championships and all other FIDE competitions. It awards the international chess titles of Grandmaster, International Master, FIDE Master, Woman Grandmaster, Woman International Master, FIDE Woman Master, International Arbiter and other titles.

FIDE Presidents

Alexander Rueb	Folke Rogard
FIDE President 1924-1949	FIDE President 1949-1970
Machgielis Euwe	Friedrik Olafsson
FIDE President 1970-1978	FIDE President 1978-1982
Florencio Campomanes	Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
FIDE President 1982-1995	FIDE President since 1995

FIDE Commissions and Special Projects
1. Qualification Commission (QC)
2. Technical Commission (TEC)
3. Rules and Tournament Regulations (RTR)
4. Swiss Pairings Programs (SPP)
5. Technical Administration Panel (TAP)
6. Arbiters’ Commission (ARB)
7. Arbiters’ Seminars and Examinations Panel (ASEP)
8. Trainers’ Commission (TRG)
9. Events Commission (EVE)
10. Commission for World Championships and Olympiads (WCO)
11. Development  CACDEC Commission (DEV)
12. Chess in Schools Commission (SCH)
13. Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM)
14. Medical Commission (MED)

Special Projects:
1. Chess Art and Exhibition
2. Chess Composition
3. Chess for the Disabled
4. Chess Media
5. Computer and Internet Chess
6. International Organisations
7. Social Projects

FIDE Tournaments:
World Championship Cycle
Chess Olympiad for Men and Women
World Team Championship
Continental Individual Championships
Continental Club Cups
World Junior Individual Championships
World Junior Girls Championship
World Boys & Girls U18 Championship
World Boys &Girls U16 Championship
World Youth U8, U10, U12, U14 Festival
World Youth Rapid Championship
World Youth Team Events
World Team-26 Championship
World Senior Championship
World Senior Team Championship
World Amateur Championship
World Rapid Championship
World Cup
Grand Prix Men & Women

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