FIDE Arbiters’ Commission releases a new edition of the FIDE Arbiters’ Manual 2026
The FIDE Arbiters’ Commission is pleased to release the edition 2026 of the FIDE Arbiters’ Manual.
The FIDE Interim President, GM Viswanathan Anand wrote in the introduction:
This Manual serves as one of the key reference points for arbiters, players, organisers, and all those seeking a deeper understanding of the rules and regulations of chess. The purpose of the Manual is to provide clear explanations, practical guidance, and up-to-date interpretations of the FIDE regulations that govern our game.
Several important updates have been introduced in the FIDE Handbook since the previous edition. These include:
- further refinements to rating and title regulations
- updated tie-break and playoff procedures
- continued harmonisation of rules across standard, rapid, and blitz
The work presented here is the result of a collective effort by a highly committed team of experts. Team led by IA Anantharam Rathinam (IND) and members Alex McFarlane (SCO), Amir Erfan Hashemi (IRI), Arasu B (IND), Ashot Vardapetyan (ARM), Chanda Nsakanya (ZAM), Cicek Melih (TUR), Ganesh Babu S (IND), Gilton Mkumbwa (MWI), Gopakumar S (IND), Kamalov Jakhongir (UZB), Klaus Deventer (GER), Marco Biagioli (ITA), Mario Held (ITA), Roberto Ricca (ITA), Shaun Press (PNG) and Swapnil Bansod (IND).
They all provided very valuable input.
