The Association of Chess Professionals

The Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) is a not-for-profit international organization which operates under the French law and was set up in Paris in September 2003.

The ACP has one simple goal: to transform chess, which in effect is still an amateur sport, into a professional one. The ACP would like to emulate the successes of golf and tennis, namely to set up a circuit of well run professional tournaments all linked together as in a chain. To this end, two different avenues are being explored: linking the existing tournaments worldwide and creating new ACP events, including women's tournaments. The ACP also acts as an organization which protects chess professionals’ rights when these are infringed.

Membership to the ACP is open to all chess players who have the FIDE title of International Master (IM and WIM) and International Grandmaster (GM and WGM). These players automatically become members upon the payment of the membership fee (€30 per year). Other players and chess professionals may also apply for admission. They will have to address an application to the Board of the Association in order to prove that chess constitutes an important part of their professional activity, whether they are chess trainers, chess teachers, chess journalists, presidents of chess clubs, etc. This list is not exhaustive.

All members of the ACP are entitled to elect the Board of the organisation every two years. At present, the Board consists of nine members: GM Alexander Baburin (Ireland), GM Viktor Bologan (Moldova), GM Igor Glek (Germany), GM Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), GM Joel Lautier (France), GM Bartlomiej Macieja (Poland), WGM Svetlana Matveeva (Russia), WGM Almira Skripchenko (France) and GM Pavel Tregubov (Russia). After its election in December 2003, the Board has appointed GM Joel Lautier as President, Alexander Baburin as Secretary and Almira Skripchenko as Treasurer of the ACP. The Board started its work on January 1st, 2004.
We hope that the majority of chess players will support our efforts and will join the Association.

The annual membership fee of 30 Euros is relatively small, but it will enable the Association to finance itself (since it is a not-for-profit organisation) and to cover the expenses concerning its running costs such legal fees, accountant's fees and others.

Links

• Moving ahead with the ACP
  Report on the board meeting of the ACP in January 2004 in Wijk aan Zee, with an official press release of the ACP.

• Open Letter from the ACP to the ECU
  After the board meeting in Wijk the CAP released an open letter to the European Chess Union, a branch of FIDE. In it the ACP criticise past practices and demand specific and substantial changes. We bring you a summary and the original letter.

• Vladimir Kramnik backs a new chess association
  Disillusioned by the failure of FIDE to look after the interests of top professionals, Kramnik is urging his colleagues to join a new Association of Chess Professionals (ACP). "It is high time for us to work together and improve conditions in tournaments, which have taken a turn for the worse."

• Joel Lautier, frankly speaking
  After the GMA and PCA it's now the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) that is trying to improve the lot of professional chess players. Founding member Joel Lautier speaks out extensively on the goals and aspirations of the new organisation. The top French GM is highly critical of FIDE, but does not see the ACP taking over their role.