Russian chess official dies of suspected malaria after Nigeria trip

Russian chess official Sergei Indeikin, 36, died of suspected malaria after returning from a work trip to Nigeria. Indeikin served as an operational manager and delegate for the International Chess Federation, FIDE. He travelled to Abuja in August for the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships. Upon his return, Indeikin began experiencing severe symptoms and was hospitalized in Perm, Russia, but his condition worsened and he passed away on August 23, 2023.

His father, Alexander, confirmed to Russian media that Indeikin had developed a severe form of malaria during his trip to Nigeria and that his son had been vaccinated before the journey. FIDE officially reported his death as a sudden illness without identifying the specific cause. Indeikin had been involved with FIDE events since 2021 and played a significant role in organizing major international chess competitions.