On 24–25 January 2026, at VU University in Amsterdam, the Chairmen and Secretary of the FIDE Arbiters’, Rules, and Fair-Play Commissions held a joint meeting dedicated to the future of chess integrity.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich attended the opening of the meeting, which was marked by a strong spirit of unity, professionalism, and mutual respect. Addressing the participants, he emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts across all integrity-related functions in chess, stating:
“The integrity of chess depends on close cooperation between arbiters, rules experts, and fair-play specialists. Only by working together, with clearly defined responsibilities and high professional standards, can we ensure trust, fairness, and consistency at all levels of competition.”
A clear and shared vision emerged from the discussions: arbiters and fair-play staff should not be viewed as separate entities, but as complementary roles that must operate in close coordination. This includes the development of integrated education and training pathways, clearer allocation of responsibilities within the playing venue, and enhanced cooperation at all organisational levels.
The working group reaffirmed the central role of the Chief Arbiter, highlighted the importance of modern and harmonised education systems, and stressed the necessity of maintaining the highest fair-play standards at FIDE World Events.
A key conclusion of the meeting was the recognition that arbiters, rules experts, and fair-play specialists form a single professional community, working together to make chess fairer, stronger, and safer for players, organisers, and the global chess community.
The working group formulated several proposals – including potential amendments to existing regulations – which will be circulated for consideration within the respective commissions. Joint work will continue in the coming months with the objective of developing a comprehensive set of proposals for submission to the FIDE Council.