The operations manager for the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Sergey Indeykin, has died in Russia, after an alleged mosquito bite in Nigeria where he was involved in organising a chess tournament.

The 36-year-old was said to have later left Abuja, after the business trip for Uzbekistan where he fell ill when the symptoms started to manifest.

He thereafter went to Russia where his condition worsened to the point that doctors in his birth state of Perm, were unable to save his life. 

According to MIR 24, on Monday, the deceased’s father, Alexander Indeykin, said his son likely contracted malaria through a mosquito bite in Nigeria, adding that the symptoms described by his son’s colleagues resembled those of malaria. 

FIDE in a statement on Monday confirmed Indeykin’s demise but didn’t reveal the cause of his death.

Mr Indeykin who worked in FIDE events since 2021 participated in organising major competitions such as World Championship matches, the World Cup, Candidates Tournaments, and World Rapid and Blitz Championships, in different countries.

The late FIDE manager said to have made significant contributions to major international chess events, also supported an orphanage and brought chess-related souvenirs to the children from his travels.

Prior to his employment at FIDE, he worked in basketball and sports marketing, including at UNICS Kazan.