Russian Chess Official Sergei Indeikin Dies After Suspected Malaria in Nigeria
Russian chess official Sergei Indeikin has died at 36 after reportedly developing severe malaria following a work trip to Nigeria.
Indeikin travelled to Abuja earlier this month for the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships.
The competition took place from August 1 to 8, with Indeikin serving as an operational manager and delegate.
He was among the officials responsible for supporting the international tournament organised by the International Chess Federation.
FIDE announced Indeikin’s death on August 23, describing it as a sudden illness.
The organisation did not disclose the specific illness or officially state that malaria caused his death.
However, Russian media later reported that Indeikin had contracted a severe form of malaria during his trip to Nigeria.
His mother, Tatiana, told Russian business newspaper RBC that the illness progressed extremely quickly.
She said her son was taken to hospital after returning to Perm, but his condition had already become critical.
Russian newspaper Argumenty i Fakty reported that Indeikin travelled from Abuja to Uzbekistan before experiencing serious health problems.
His father, Alexander, said information from Indeikin’s colleagues at FIDE suggested malaria could have been responsible.
Indeikin later travelled through Moscow to his hometown of Perm, where his health reportedly deteriorated further.
An ambulance was called, and he was taken to hospital, but efforts to save him were unsuccessful.
Other Russian media reports claimed Indeikin was bitten by a mosquito while attending the chess tournament in Abuja.
The mosquito bite was reportedly suspected to have transmitted the malaria parasite.
Medical expert Professor Alexander Lukashev explained that malaria can be transmitted through infected mosquito bites in tropical countries such as Nigeria.
Indeikin had worked with FIDE since 2021 and contributed to several major international chess competitions.
His work included World Championship matches, World Cups, Candidates tournaments and World Rapid and Blitz Championships.
FIDE described him as an important member of its operations team who travelled extensively to support major chess events.
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Despite reports linking his death to malaria contracted in Nigeria, FIDE has not independently confirmed malaria as the cause.
The organisation continues to officially describe his death only as the result of a sudden illness.
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