Russian Chess Official Dies at 36 After Reportedly Contracting Severe Malaria in Nigeria

Russian chess official Sergei Indeikin has died at the age of 36 after reportedly developing a severe form of malaria following a work trip to Nigeria.

Indeikin, an operational manager and delegate with the International Chess Federation (FIDE), travelled to Abuja earlier in August for the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, held from August 1 to 8.

FIDE confirmed his presence at the Abuja tournament and announced his death on August 23, describing it as the result of a “sudden illness”. The organisation did not publicly disclose a specific medical diagnosis.

However, Russian business newspaper RBC, citing Indeikin’s mother, Tatiana, reported that he developed a severe form of malaria during the work trip. She said his condition had deteriorated rapidly by the time he was taken to hospital after returning to Perm.

“It was a very rapidly progressing illness. The most severe form,” she was quoted as saying.

Russian newspaper Argumenty i Fakty (AIF) reported that Indeikin travelled from Abuja to Uzbekistan, where he began experiencing health problems, before later returning to Russia through Moscow and travelling to his home city of Perm.

His father, Alexander, told AIF that information from Indeikin’s FIDE colleagues suggested malaria could have been responsible for his illness. He was eventually admitted to hospital in Perm after his condition worsened, but doctors were unable to save him.

Several Russian media reports have linked the illness to his time in Nigeria, with some reporting that Indeikin was bitten by a mosquito during the chess tournament. Medical expert Professor Alexander Lukashev explained that malaria can be transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito in Nigeria and other tropical regions.

Indeikin had worked with FIDE since 2021 and contributed to the organisation of major international chess events, including World Championship matches, World Cups, Candidates tournaments and World Rapid and Blitz Championships. FIDE described him as a key member of its operations team who travelled extensively to support major competitions.

He is survived by his wife and daughter. While his family and Russian media reports have attributed his illness to severe malaria allegedly contracted during his Nigeria trip, FIDE has only officially described his death as resulting from a sudden illness and has not independently confirmed malaria as the cause of death.