Association of Chess Professionals
A non-profit international association established to represent professional chess players, improve their working conditions and promote elite chess.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) was an international non-profit organization created to represent the interests of professional chess players and give them a collective voice in the governance of the sport. It was founded in June 2003 after disputes involving professional players and the European Chess Union during the European Individual Chess Championship in Turkey. International Master Almira Skripchenko and Grandmasters Pavel Tregubov and Igor Glek organized an initial players' meeting, which led to an initiative group and, subsequently, the formal creation of the ACP. The organization sought to occupy a position distinct from that of a traditional chess federation. Rather than replacing FIDE, the World Chess Federation, the ACP aimed to act as a representative and advisory body for players while also working with organizers, national federations and other chess institutions. Its agenda included player contracts, tournament conditions, prize funds, scheduling, professional rights, disciplinary and regulatory questions, anti-cheating policy and the participation of players in decisions affecting their careers. The ACP developed several practical programs. Its ACP Tour created a year-round performance and points system covering a large group of high-level tournaments. Strong performers could qualify for the ACP Cup or receive invitations and wildcards to prestigious international events. The association also organized or supported elite tournaments, women's competitions and rapid and blitz events. Between 2012 and 2015, its events included the ACP Golden Classic, ACP Cup, ACP Women Cup, Women's World Rapid and Blitz Championship and European-ACP Women's Rapid Championship. Collectively, these competitions attracted more than 150 players and offered substantial aggregate prize money, although the organization itself was not a commercial prize-money business. The ACP also promoted consultation among professionals. It conducted member opinion polls, circulated newsletters, maintained dialogue through the internet and developed recommendations for FIDE and national federations. The board operated on a voluntary basis, with ordinary proposals generally decided by majority vote and especially important matters requiring a two-thirds majority. By the summer of 2015, the association reported approximately 1,100 members from 85 countries, including grandmasters, international masters, arbiters and organizers. Its membership included many leading players, among them former world champion Viswanathan Anand. Relations with FIDE changed over time. The ACP was initially critical of FIDE, particularly over the choice of Libya for the 2004 World Championship and contractual conditions affecting players. Later, communication and cooperation improved, and ACP proposals were incorporated into changes intended to improve player conditions and tournament economics. ACP representatives also participated in joint anti-cheating work with FIDE. The joint ACP-FIDE Anti Cheating Committee was later renamed the Fair Play Commission in 2018. A social-support dimension emerged through the Veterans' Programme, announced with FIDE in 2014. The program provided annual stipends to selected veteran players who needed assistance; the organization later stated that 18 veterans had received support. The ACP's leadership and priorities changed over the years, including a development program introduced by president Emil Sutovsky in 2011 that emphasized professional-chess advocacy, a think tank, improved communications, sponsorship transparency and broader membership. The ACP announced on 13 July 2023 that it would dissolve. The stated reasons were declining membership and insufficient funds. Its dissolution ended the formal organization, although its earlier initiatives—player representation, tour-based qualification, consultation, veteran assistance and cooperation on fair play—remain part of the history of modern professional chess administration.
History
The Association of Chess Professionals was established in June 2003 in response to tensions between professional players and chess authorities during the European Individual Chess Championship in Turkey. Almira Skripchenko, Pavel Tregubov and Igor Glek helped convene the first players' meeting and formed the initiative group that developed into the ACP. The organization's purpose was to create an independent collective voice for chess professionals while supporting the broader development of the game. The ACP's first board began operating in 2004 under president Joël Lautier. Its early leadership also included Bartłomiej Macieja, Almira Skripchenko, Pavel Tregubov, Igor Glek, Anna Hahn, Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Heine Nielsen and Yannick Pelletier. Early members included prominent players such as Viswanathan Anand, Péter Lékó and Judit Polgár. The organization was sometimes compared with the Professional Chess Association created by Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short, but the ACP did not initially seek to run a rival world championship structure. It stated that it wanted to cooperate with FIDE and national and international chess bodies. Relations with FIDE were nevertheless difficult during the ACP's early years. The association criticized the choice of Libya as the venue for the 2004 World Championship because of concerns about Israeli players' ability to participate, as well as aspects of the championship's player contracts. The ACP also sought recognition in discussions about the rights and conditions of professionals. In 2005, Lautier publicly described the relationship as unproductive. Over time, however, the two organizations established greater contact, and ACP recommendations contributed to changes concerning tournament conditions, prize funds and players' financial treatment. Tournament activity became one of the ACP's most visible functions. The ACP Tour was conceived as a points-based system joining a broad range of high-level tournaments. Pavel Tregubov developed the concept and managed its technical details during its early period. Yannick Pelletier managed the tour from 2007 to 2011, after which Tregubov resumed the coordinator role in 2012. The tour provided a continuing measure of player performance and offered leading performers access to the ACP Cup and wildcards for major events. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, for example, qualified for the 2013 World Cup through his tour results and subsequently reached the semifinals. The association also staged and supported elite competitions. From 2012 through 2015, it organized seven world-class events, including ACP Golden Classic tournaments in Amsterdam and Bergamo, the ACP Cup in Riga, the ACP Women Cup in Tbilisi, the Women's World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Batumi and the European-ACP Women's Rapid Championship in Kutaisi. More than 150 players took part in those events, with aggregate prizes reported at more than US$750,000. The ACP additionally ran online tournaments for members on ChessBase's Playchess server and developed plans for a season-ending event based on annual performance. The organization expanded its policy and member-engagement work. It regularly surveyed members, issued newsletters, maintained online discussion channels and prepared recommendations for FIDE, federations and organizers. The board was international and operated voluntarily. It coordinated events, consultations, veteran support, fair-play initiatives and the ACP Tour. Ordinary proposals could be approved by majority vote, while particularly important decisions required two-thirds support. Emil Sutovsky's presidency, beginning in 2011, included a development program focused on strengthening the professional-chess ecosystem. Its priorities included creating a think tank, organizing top-level events, improving communications and media outreach, working with sponsors through transparent processes and increasing the ACP's membership and representativeness. By summer 2015, the association reported roughly 1,100 members from 85 countries, including grandmasters, international masters, arbiters and organizers. The ACP's cooperation with FIDE also extended to fair play. The two organizations established a joint Anti Cheating Committee, in which ACP officials participated. The committee was renamed the Fair Play Commission in 2018. In 2014, the ACP and FIDE launched a Veterans' Programme to provide annual stipends to selected veteran players. The program subsequently supported 18 veterans according to the organization's reported figures. On 13 July 2023, the ACP announced that it would dissolve because of declining membership and funds. The dissolution brought the organization's formal activities to an end. Its legacy includes an early attempt to institutionalize professional-player representation, a tournament-performance system linked to elite invitations, structured dialogue between players and FIDE, anti-cheating cooperation and a limited but notable welfare program for veteran players.
- 2023
ACP announces dissolution
[1]The association announced its dissolution, attributing the decision to declining membership and funds.
- 2018
Joint anti-cheating committee renamed
[1]The ACP-FIDE Anti Cheating Committee became known as the Fair Play Commission.
- 2015
Membership reaches approximately 1,100 professionals
[1]The ACP reported members from approximately 85 countries, including players, arbiters and organizers.
- 2014
Veterans' Programme launched
[1]The ACP and FIDE introduced a stipend program for selected veteran players.
- 2011
Professional-chess development program introduced
[1]President Emil Sutovsky outlined plans for a think tank, stronger communications, transparent sponsorship and broader membership.
- 2004
First ACP board begins work
[1]Joël Lautier became the first ACP president, supported by an international board of professional players and chess officials.
- 2004
ACP Tour concept announced
[1]The organization announced a season-based tour and points system intended to identify leading performers and determine qualification for a final ACP event.
- 2003
ACP founded
[1]The Association of Chess Professionals was established after a players' meeting connected with the European Individual Chess Championship in Turkey.
Products and positioning
A player-led international advocacy and tournament-support organization focused on professional chess, combining collective representation, elite-event promotion, performance ranking, policy consultation and support for veteran players.
Ranking and qualification system · 2004
ACP Tour
A year-round performance and points framework linking roughly 100 high-level tournaments across approximately 25 countries. Results were used to identify leading players for the ACP Cup and to award wildcards or invitations to prestigious competitions. Pavel Tregubov developed the system, Yannick Pelletier administered it from 2007 to 2011, and Tregubov resumed coordination in 2012.
Elite chess tournament
ACP Cup
An elite event associated with the ACP Tour, designed to bring together leading performers from the tour. Qualification and invitations were connected to the association's annual performance calculations.
Player-support program · 2014
Veterans' Programme
A joint ACP-FIDE welfare initiative providing annual stipends to selected veteran chess players who could benefit from financial support. The ACP reported that 18 veterans had received awards through the program.
Professional advocacy service
ACP member polls and consultation
Regular opinion polling and consultations gave members a mechanism to express views on professional chess, tournament regulations and governance. Results and recommendations were used in dialogue with FIDE, national federations and other stakeholders.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Veterans' Programme
International
The ACP partnered with FIDE to provide annual stipends to deserving veteran players.
Outcome. The ACP later reported that 18 veterans had received support.
- 2012ACP Tour expansion and elite-event program
International
The association expanded its tournament and ranking activities, connecting high-level events with qualification opportunities and invitations.
Outcome. Seven world-class events were organized during 2012–2015, attracting more than 150 players.
Brand decisions
2023
Dissolve the associationOtherBackground
The ACP reported declining membership and insufficient funds.
Action taken
On 13 July 2023, the organization announced that it would dissolve.
Aftermath
The ACP ceased to operate as a formal association.
2018
Continue joint fair-play work with FIDEOtherBackground
Concerns about cheating and the integrity of competitive chess required coordination between player representatives and the world federation.
Action taken
The joint ACP-FIDE Anti Cheating Committee was renamed the Fair Play Commission.
Aftermath
The change formalized the broader fair-play remit of the joint body.
2003
Create an independent professional-player associationStrategyBackground
Professional players sought a collective mechanism to address working conditions and their limited influence over chess governance.
Action taken
The founding initiative group established the ACP as a non-profit representative organization.
Aftermath
The ACP became a channel for player consultations, tournament advocacy and dialogue with FIDE.
Sources2 sources
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