#chess It is NOT a good start for the new FIDE administration to ignore and bypass the Ukrainian Chess Federation @UAchessfed in appointing a Ukrainian vice-president without their official approval. In addition to the fact that Mr Podolyak has absolutely no relation to chess, exactly as Mr Kolobkov (RUS) doesn't. At this point, both choices seem to serve only non-chess interests and constitute a co-ordinated attack on the Ukrainian Chess Federation.

A $6 million commitment to help media communications I announce the creation of a FIDE Chess Media Fund, with $1.5 million per year, from 2027 to 2030. This is a minimum commitment of $6 million over four years. The Fund will support projects by national federations to help them build and increase their media capacity to better promote their work and players. This includes support for building digital channels, developing sponsorship materials and receiving practical training and expert support. The fund is open to all national federations. It is important to note that this would be additional funding. The proposed Development Fund programmes would run separately, with a separate budget allocated for that. Our goal is practical. We need more chess in public, and to achieve that, we also need to help federations build capacities on how to spread their message, engage audiences and sponsors. We want to help Member Federations build their own, independent, media voices. This is one of the pillars of capacity building within FIDE which we want to provide. - 2027–2030 - $1.5m annually - $6m minimum personal commitment More info here: drive.google.com/file/d/11pK…

I welcome the @ECUonline decision to maintain its institutional neutrality in the upcoming FIDE presidential elections and to leave the choice to the national federations and their delegates. That seems to me the right approach. Continental organisations bring together federations with different views and priorities. They will not always agree, and they should not be expected to. The job of the candidates is different. We should explain clearly what we want to do with FIDE and what we are prepared to be accountable for. @vishy64theking and I have been doing that throughout this campaign. We have spoken about giving federations more predictable support and putting more resources into development. We also believe national federations should have a stronger voice inside FIDE. Delegates can look at those proposals, compare them with the alternatives and make up their own minds. That is how this election should work.