Russia to reportedly bring new rule on chess players switching citizenship: Everything you need to know

The Russian Chess Federation will reportedly contact all major sponsors of the country’s players, wherein the parties will discuss on a potential clause in the players contracts. According to a report in TASS, a news agency based in Russia, players who change citizenship from Russia to another country will be required to return the sponsorship money under the clause.

Russian Chess Federation to reportedly contact major sponsors

The Russian Chess Federation has decided to contact all major Russian sponsors who help chess players and their teams to make sure that contracts include a clause that requires a chess player to return all sponsorship money in the event of a change in sports citizenship," Andrei Filatov, the President of the Russian Chess Federation, told the news agency.

Also Read | Carlsen’s coach and Anand’s former trainer accuses FIDE of being used by Russia and Putin

“The Russian Chess Federation has drawn conclusions and has already introduced a similar practice after a number of chess players changed their citizenship after 2022,” he added.

Russian chess players have been playing under the banner of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In December 2024, the FIDE Council approved the extension of FIDE Flag Representation for Russian and Belarusian players till 1 January, 2026.

In 2023, 99 Russians opted to represent a different country in chess, according to a report in The New Indian Express. And as per FIDE’s records, between 2022 and 2024, a total of 760 players from Russia and Belarus switched to competing under the FIDE flag.

Chess calendar 2025 | What’s in store for the sport in 2025? Here’s the full list of events

Filatov stated that the proposed rule is necessary in the current situation. “This step is necessary in the current reality, although it causes a painful reaction among many coaches who are attached to talented chess players and try to manipulate them,” added the 53-year-old.

Players who have changed Russian citizenship

Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri is one of the noted chess players to have switched his citizenship from Russia. He switched from Russia to Netherlands in 2009, and is now the No 1 player there.  In 2023, GM Nikita Vitiugov switched from Russia to England amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Ian Nepomniachtchi, who was the challenger to Magnus Carlsen in the 2021 World Chess Championship, currently competes under the FIDE banner. Ian, however, remains a Russian citizen.