The FIDE Workshop for Changes in Regulations organized in partnership with the Asian Chess Federation was held online from March 4-7, 2022 via Zoom. At the opening ceremony, the Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher welcomed participants and the Guest of Honour FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
The FIDE President said that the FIDE General Assembly held last December had approved these changes to regulations and emphasized the importance of keeping up with the latest FIDE regulations for arbiters and organizers. Arkady Dvorkovich thanked Arbiters for their participation, welcomed feedback and invited comments for further discussion with FIDE.
Mr. Dvorkovich drew attention to the recent FIDE Council decision caused by the current geopolitical situation and the tragic war in Ukraine – Russian players can take part in FIDE events only under the FIDE flag. He confirmed that FIDE had to move the Chess Olympiad and FIDE Congress from Russia.
FIDE opened bids for hosting Chess Olympiad and has already received a bid from All India Chess Federation. There can be separate bids for Chess Olympiad, Olympiad for People with Disabilities and FIDE Congress. FIDE President invited all potential bidders to contact FIDE.
A total of 180 participants from 53 countries registered for the Workshop, namely 30 Asian countries, 10 European countries, 7 African countries and 6 countries from the Americas.
The Workshop was attended by 49 International Arbiters, 54 FIDE Arbiters, 63 National Arbiters and eight International Organizers.
FIDE Qualification Commission Secretary Alex Holowczak of the U.K. made a report on changes to FIDE title and Rating Regulations which came into effect 1st January 2022 explaining the logic behind the changes.
Rules Commission Chairman Abdulrahim Mahdi of the UAE presented the updates to the FIDE Laws of Chess and online regulations.
Rules Commission Secretary Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh of Iran told about updates to Arbiter title regulations, classification and updates to Fair Play regulations.
ACF Executive Director Casto Abundo of the Philippines rounded off the seminar with a lecture on How to Organize Chess Tournaments.
The Workshop was a project of the Asian Chess Federation aimed to assist Arbiters and Organizers and speed up a post-pandemic return to over-the-board chess.
