International chess federation

IOC recognition[edit]

In 1999, FIDE was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Two years later, it introduced the IOC's anti-drugs rules to chess, as part of its campaign for chess to become part of the Olympic Games.

Commercial agreement with Agon and World Chess[edit]

In 2012 FIDE entered into a commercial agreement, initially planned to last until 2021, with the company Agon Limited. This company was given rights to organize and commercially exploit the World Chess Championship and the associated events in the World Championship cycle.^[39] The first tournament it organized was the London FIDE Grand Prix event in September 2012,^[40] followed by the London Candidates Tournament in March 2013,^[41] and the Chennai World Chess Championship in November 2013.^[42]
Agon subsequently organized the four events in the FIDE Grand Prix 2014–15,^[43] the Candidates Tournament in 2014,^[44] and the World Chess Championship in 2014.
Agon had been founded in 2012 in Jersey by Andrew Paulson as the sole shareholder.^[46] On February 20, 2012, an agreement between Agon and FIDE was made, subject to approval by the 2012 FIDE General Assembly.^[39] This approval was forthcoming in September 2012.^[47] In October 2014, Agon was sold to its current CEO Ilya Merenzon for the sum of one pound.^[40] At the September 2016 FIDE General Assembly, it was resolved that Agon should institute a corporate presence in a locale with more transparency. Merenzon said that they would register in the United Kingdom within a few months.^[48] As a result, a new company, World Chess Limited, was registered shortly after, replacing Agon as the rights holder in the agreement with FIDE.