A 36-year-old Russian chess official, Sergei Indeikin, has died after reportedly developing a severe form of malaria following a work trip to Nigeria.
Indeikin worked as an operational manager and delegate for the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and travelled to Abuja to assist with the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, held from August 1 to 8.
FIDE confirmed his death on August 23, describing it as a “sudden illness” but did not disclose the specific cause of death.
However, Russian media reports, citing Indeikin’s parents and medical sources, said he was believed to have contracted severe malaria during his stay in Nigeria.
According to the reports, Indeikin left Abuja for Uzbekistan after the tournament, where he began experiencing health problems. He later travelled through Moscow to his hometown of Perm, Russia, but his condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly.
His mother, Tatiana, described the illness as “very rapidly progressing” and said it was “the most severe form.”
His father, Alexander, reportedly said information from his son’s colleagues suggested that malaria could have been responsible for his condition. Other Russian media outlets also reported that he may have been bitten by an infected mosquito while in Nigeria.
Indeikin was subsequently taken to a hospital in Perm, but doctors were reportedly unable to save his life.
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
However, FIDE has not independently confirmed malaria as the cause of death. The federation has only officially stated that Indeikin died following a sudden illness, while his family and Russian media reports have linked the death to severe malaria allegedly contracted during his trip to Nigeria.