The second FIDE Council Meeting of 2025 took place on July 18, alongside the ongoing FIDE Women’s World Cup. Held in an online format, the meeting addressed a range of important topics, including development projects, budget matters, the FIDE calendar, fair-play measures, and the approval of 10 new Grandmaster titles
One of the decisions by the FIDE Council was to approve the participation of a team of athletes of Russian nationality in the 2025 Women’s World Team Championship under the FIDE flag. See the full press release below. This news comes in light of the decisions made during the Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest. There the Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation proposal to restore the full rights of the Russian and Belarus Chess Federations was rejected by the FIDE Council
FIDE Press release
In line with FIDE’s policy of following IOC guidance and in accordance with practices adopted by several international sports federations — such as World Aquatics, the International Fencing Federation, and the International Gymnastics Federation — the Council approved the participation of a team of athletes of Russian nationality in the 2025 Women’s World Team Championship under the FIDE flag, subject to obtaining a non-objection letter from the IOC.
This decision builds upon the precedent set by the January 2025 FIDE resolution, which allowed neutral teams of vulnerable groups (youth and players with disabilities) to participate in team competitions. All such entries are required to compete without national symbols, in full alignment with IOC policy.
Timeline
Aug 21, 2024 Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation submits resolution to restore the full membership rights of RCF
Sept 12 Malcolm Pein for BBC, “Russia’s control of FIDE is absolute”
Sept 16 Vasyl Ivanchuk and the Olympic teams of Ukraine protest against Kyrgyz motion
Sept 17 FIDE Congress – national federations at risk of losing government funding
Sept 19 FIDE Council rejects Russian / Kyrgyz proposal
Sept 22 Russian / Kyrgyz proposal rejected by the FIDE General Assembly
July 21, 2025 FIDE Council approves a Russian team for the 2025 Women’s World Team Championship
July 23, 2025 ECU Statement on the FIDE Council decisions
