According to reports, the Russian Chess Federation will hold talks with several sponsors of Russian chess players to discuss a possible clause that would require players to return sponsorship fees if they switch nationalities.
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The Russian Chess Federation will reportedly contact all major sponsors of the country’s players, where the parties will discuss potential terms of player contracts. According to a report by Russia-based news agency TASS, athletes who change their nationality from Russia to another country will be required to return their sponsorship fees under this clause.
The Russian Chess Federation will contact all major Russian sponsors of chess players and their teams and include a clause in their contracts requiring them to refund all sponsorship fees to chess players in the event of a change in sporting citizenship. We decided to make sure that the The head of the Russian Chess Federation told the news agency.
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“Given the large number of chess players changing their nationality after 2022, the Russian Chess Federation has drawn the conclusion and has already introduced a similar practice,” it added.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russian chess players have been playing under the flag of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). In December 2024, the FIDE Council approved the extension of FIDE flag representation for athletes from Russia and Belarus until January 1, 2026. .
According to a report in The New Indian Express, 99 Russians have chosen to represent another country in chess in 2023. And according to FIDE records, between 2022 and 2024, a total of 760 athletes from Russia and Belarus switched to competing under the FIDE flag.
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Filatov said the proposed regulations are necessary in the current situation. “While this measure is necessary in the current reality, it causes a painful reaction among many coaches who are obsessed with talented chess players and try to manipulate them,” the 53-year-old added.
Players who changed their Russian nationality
Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri is one of the prominent chess players who switched nationality from Russia. He moved to the Netherlands from Russia in 2009 and is currently their number one player. In 2023, GM Nikita Vityugov transferred from Russia to England during the Russo-Ukrainian war. Ian Nepomniatchi, who was Magnus Carlsen’s challenger at the 2021 World Chess Championship, is currently competing under the FIDE banner. However, Ian remains a Russian citizen.
