Malcolm Pein has announced his bid to lead a ticket aimed at transforming FIDE into a modern, self-sustaining, and independent NGO.
A prominent figure in the chess world, Pein is an International Master and serves as the Director of International Chess and External Relations for the ECF, Vice President of the ECU, and CEO of Chess in Schools and Communities.
The move gained immediate traction, with Garry Kasparov retweeting the announcement in a clear show of support.
Full announcement and contact on Twitter:
For the second time in a decade, a FIDE President is threatened with sanctions. In February, the European Union declared its intention to sanction Arkady Dvorkovich. We have been here before. In 2015, sanctions were imposed on Kirsan Ilyumzhinov by the US Treasury. As a result, FIDE lost access to bank accounts, lost its credibility and our standing with the IOC was damaged.
Fortunately, the proposed European Union sanctions, which would include an EU visa-ban and asset-freeze, have not yet been imposed on our President. If sanctions are imposed, the President should not stand for a third term at the General Assembly, to be held during the 47th Chess Olympiad in September.
In this circumstance, should the President stand for re-election, I will stand against him and a broad-based electoral coalition should be formed with the intention of taking FIDE in a different direction. This coalition can be established in the coming months, before the electoral deadline towards the end of July.
My team and I are assembling a ticket, including candidates for the FIDE Council. We are preparing a campaign program which will emphasise our objective of transforming FIDE into a modern, self-sufficient and independent non-governmental organisation.
A necessary condition for the success of our campaign is of course the support of the international chess community. Throughout my 50 years in chess, I have been involved in: competition as a professional player, tournament organisation at all levels, journalism, commercial sponsorship, chess in schools, social projects, as well as chess administration in the European Chess Union and English Chess Federation. I am uniquely qualified.
Ahead of the deadline to submit tickets, I would welcome expressions of interest in joining our campaign to transform the organisation that governs the game we all love.
Let’s do it. Gens Una Sumus!
