title: FIDE flag player
text: # FIDE flag player
  
  A FIDE flag player is a chess player who is unaffiliated with any national federation, and thus does not officially play for any country or national federation in FIDE-sanctioned tournaments. The flag takes its name from the French acronym for International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs)
  
  Alireza Firouzja is among the notable players who played under the FIDE flag. He formerly represented Iran but opted to play as a neutral athlete under FIDE in 2019 due to Iran's sports policy of boycotting Israel. He eventually transferred to France's federation in 2021.
  
  Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia was speculated to be required to play under the FIDE flag in the World Chess Championship 2021 due to the World Anti-Doping Agency's sanctions against Russia in the Olympics and tournaments considered as world championships. He officially played for the Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) instead with a flag bearing the CFR's logo and abbreviation.
  
  Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIDE decided that "no Russian and Belarusian national flag be displayed or anthem be played in all FIDE-rated international chess events". FIDE offered players to play under the flag of their national chess federation, or under the FIDE flag. Since FIDE's decision, most top-level Russian chess players play in international events under the FIDE flag, including Nepomniachtchi at the 2022 Candidates tournament and 2023 World Championship.
  
  