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, who worked as an operational manager and delegate for the International Chess Federation (FIDE), travelled to Abuja in August to assist with the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, which were 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 de@th.
However, Russian media reports, citing his parents and medical sources, said Indeikin was believed to have contracted severe malaria during his time in Nigeria.
According to 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 Indeikin might have been bitten by an infected mosquito while in Nigeria.
He was subsequently taken to hospital in Perm, but doctors were reportedly unable to save his life.
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
While his family and Russian media reports have linked his death to severe malaria allegedly contracted during his Nigeria trip, FIDE has only officially stated that he died following a sudden illness and had not independently confirmed malaria as the cause of death.
