Russian Chess Official Dies of Severe Malaria Following Nigeria Trip

​FIDE Operational Manager Sergei Indeikin Passes Away at 36

​The international chess community is mourning the loss of Sergei Indeikin, an operational manager and delegate for the International Chess Federation (FIDE), who has died at the age of 36 following a sudden and aggressive illness.

​Indeikin reportedly contracted a severe form of malaria after being bitten by a mosquito during a professional assignment in Abuja, Nigeria. He had traveled to the Nigerian capital to oversee and assist with the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, which ran from August 1 to 8.

​Following the conclusion of the tournament, Indeikin traveled to Uzbekistan before returning home through Moscow to his native city of Perm, Russia. According to statements from his family, his health took a sharp and alarming turn for the worse shortly after his return.

​His mother, Tatiana, described the rapid progression of the illness as the most severe form of the disease. Despite being admitted to a hospital in Perm, medical professionals were ultimately unable to save him. His father, Alexander, noted that accounts from his son’s colleagues strongly pointed toward malaria as the underlying cause.

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​While Russian media outlets and family members have openly attributed his passing to severe malaria contracted during his West African travels, FIDE has maintained a measured stance. In an official statement released on August 23, the organization confirmed his untimely death resulting from a “sudden illness,” though it refrained from independently verifying malaria as the definitive cause.

​Indeikin is remembered by his peers for his dedication to the sport and his administrative contributions to international chess. He leaves behind a wife and a young daughter.