As the 2025 FIDE World Women’s Team Championship approaches its November 17 start in Linares, a months-old FIDE council decision to approve a team composed of Russian nationals under the FIDE flag has resurfaced as a major flashpoint, triggering a wave of public criticism from leading figures in international chess.
Grandmaster Peter Heine Nielsen said on X that the chess world was meeting the reappearance of a Russian team at a world championship event with “complete silence,” calling it “a sad and very shameful day for chess.”
International master Irina Bulmaga wrote that FIDE had become “the first federation to allow a Russian team back to a World Championship,” adding that some players on the roster previously took part in events associated with pro-war messaging.
Grandmaster and commentator George Mastrokoukos accused FIDE of violating IOC guidelines and warned that the decision could jeopardize the federation’s standing with the Olympic movement.
The backlash intensified as critics highlighted that the event is being hosted in Spain, with Nielsen publicly questioning whether Spanish authorities would extend invitations or accreditation to FIDE officials with links to the Russian government, referencing among other cases, Canada’s previous refusal to grant a visa to FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
National federations have also renewed objections. The European Chess Union (ECU) reiterated that the decision contradicts the most recent resolutions of the FIDE General Assembly in Budapest, where proposals to lift sanctions on Russia were rejected. The Ukrainian Chess Federation restated its condemnation, calling the move a “blatant disregard” of the death toll among Ukrainian athletes and questioning FIDE’s independence from Russian influence.
The Russian Chess Federation (RCF), meanwhile, continues to welcome the development. Russian media quoted RCF executive director Alexander Tkachev dismissing criticism as “the expected reaction of our enemies,” and president Andrey Filatov said he anticipates a similar ruling for a men’s team in the future.
Background to the renewed controversy
The renewed dispute stems from a FIDE council decision made in July but only now becoming central as the Linares championship nears. In that July 18 online meeting, FIDE approved a team of players of Russian nationality to compete under the FIDE flag, on condition that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issue a non-objection letter. FIDE said all participating athletes would compete without national symbols.
The decision marked an exception to FIDE’s post-February 2022 policy, under which Russia and Belarus were barred from fielding national teams in official FIDE team events following the invasion of Ukraine. While individual players have since been allowed to compete as neutrals, team participation for Russia and Belarus remained restricted until the council’s July ruling.
FIDE defended the decision by referencing IOC recommendations and citing precedents in other international sports where neutral teams have been permitted. The federation also pointed to its January 2025 resolution allowing neutral participation in “vulnerable” categories such as youth and athletes with disabilities.
Event preparations proceed with uncertainty
The 2025 Women’s World Team Championship is scheduled for November 17–24 in Linares, featuring 12 teams divided into two pools before knockout playoffs. FIDE’s published line-ups list the “FIDE” team made up of Russian national players led by Grandmasters Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno.
Organisers and national federations, however, now face renewed questions over logistics, accreditation and potential visa restrictions raised by critics. FIDE has not disclosed details of invitations extended to officials or guests beyond standard event materials.
Watch the 2025 Women’s World Team Championship live
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.
