Russian Chess Official Dies After Suspected Malaria Following Nigeria Trip
Mirian Gom 
Russian – Russian chess official Sergei Indeikin has died at the age of 36 following what his family and several Russian media organisations described as a severe malaria infection allegedly contracted during a work trip to Nigeria.
Indeikin served as an Operational Manager and delegate of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and travelled to Abuja earlier this month for the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, held from August 1 to 8.
His death was announced by FIDE on August 23.
Russian media outlets, including Argumenty i Fakty (AIF), Lenta.ru and Izvestia, reported that Indeikin developed symptoms shortly after leaving Nigeria.
According to AIF, his father, Alexander Indeikin, said his son travelled from Abuja to Uzbekistan, where he first became ill before returning to Russia.
His condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly after arriving in Perm, where he was admitted to hospital but later died.
His mother, Tatiana Indeikina, told Izvestia that doctors diagnosed him with a severe form of malaria.
“He had a very rapid-onset illness. The most severe form,” she reportedly said.
FIDE Confirms Death, Not Cause
While family members and Russian media linked the illness to malaria allegedly contracted during the Nigeria trip, FIDE has not officially confirmed malaria as the cause of death.
In its obituary, the federation simply described Indeikin’s passing as the result of a “sudden illness.”
The federation paid tribute to him as an important member of its operations team who helped organise numerous international chess competitions, including World Championship matches, Candidates Tournaments, World Cups and World Rapid and Blitz Championships.
Medical experts quoted by Russian media noted that malaria is transmitted through bites from infected mosquitoes in tropical regions, including Nigeria.
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