28 Feb 2023 18:18

Asian Chess Federation approves Russian Chess Federation's transfer under its jurisdiction - Russian Chess Federation executive director

MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax) - The Asian Chess Federation has approved the Russian Chess Federation's transfer under its jurisdiction in a practically unanimous vote, Russian Chess Federation Executive Director Alexander Tkachyov told Interfax.

"We have just learned that 29 voted for, one was against, and six abstained. The Russian Chess Federation has become the first national federation to alter its nationality in sports by transferring from the European association to the Asian Chess Federation," Tkachyov said.

"Nothing will change for us in principle, while our athletes will have constant practice in competitions, everything will fall into place," he said.

The General Assembly of the Asian Chess Federation met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

"The transfer will be accomplished on May 1, 2023," the press service for the Russian Chess Federation said.

Russian Chess Federation President Andrei Filatov described the transfer to the Asian Chess Federation as a historic event. "A historic event happened today: this is the first time a chess federation, one of the strongest in the world, has shifted from one continent to another. We are grateful to the delegates of the Asian Chess Summit for supporting our transfer to the Asian Chess Federation by a majority of votes at the continental assembly," he said.

Filatov said he was hoping for "the participation of Russian national teams in the continental championship and the hosting of Asian competitions in Russia, which has repeatedly held successful tournaments of the highest level and has all the necessary infrastructure for that."

The Supervisory Board of the Russian Chess Federation unanimously approved the transfer to the Asian Chess Federation on April 14, 2022. The Asian Chess Federation currently unites chess federations from 54 countries, including such chess powers as China, India and Uzbekistan.