FIDE’s Events Committee will introduce reforms to chess event management that will redefine standards, titles and ratings, with the aim of shaping a transparent and organized tournament landscape.
FIDE, the international chess federation, has announced significant changes aimed at standardizing requirements for chess tournament organizers and streamlining the process for awarding titles. These changes include both the classification of organizers’ titles and the introduction of a rating system to assess the quality of chess events.
Changes regarding organizer title (effective from December 20, 2023):
FIDE has introduced a tiered system for organizer titles, consisting of three levels: Associate Organizer, FIDE International Organizer, and Premier Organizer. These levels reflect varying degrees of experience and responsibility for hosting chess events.
– Associate organizer: This entry-level level requires 3+ years of experience hosting at least 5 rated contests. The online training resources and tests provided by EVE are designed to provide applicants with a comprehensive understanding of the relevant rules and regulations. Associate Organizers are eligible to host international tournaments supported by FIDE, excluding Event Commission (EVE) and Global Strategy Commission (GSC) tournaments.
– FIDE International Organizer: This higher level requires multiple years of successful experience in organizing official international chess tournaments. Applicants must pass exams covering team management, financial aspects, tournament standards, code of ethics, and more. The existing International Organizer title obtained before the implementation of these regulations will remain valid and his license will be renewed every four years in accordance with the requirements of the FIDE Council. Only associate organizers can apply for this title.
– Premier organizer: The highest level requires at least four years of experience as a FIDE International Organizer and FIDE World Championship event organizer. This title has no expiration date and is not required to be renewed.
For more information, see handbook.fide.com/chapter/B092023.
Changes to how event organizations are evaluated (effective December 1, 2023):
FIDE has introduced a comprehensive set of 22 rating categories to evaluate the quality of chess events. These categories include various aspects, from securing government support to organizing parallel activities. Each category is assigned a maximum number of points, and some categories allow negative points in case of problems or failures.
This structured rating system aims to provide a clear and transparent rating of chess events.
For more information about the new evaluation criteria, see handbook.fide.com/chapter/D04142023.
Akaki Iashvili, Chairman of the FIDE Events Committee, commented on the changes: “FIDE chess events have seen significant improvements in recent years, and we want to continue this. Excellent chess events.” “Requirements have changed over time, and we hope to continue to do so.” Introducing new standards for chess organizers and having for the first time a clear list of responsibilities for which events and organizers are benchmarked will improve the quality of FIDE events, which will benefit players. The public and organizers.”