Grandmaster Nigel Short, FIDE's Director for Chess Development, visited Benin from February 12 to 15, 2026, marking the first such visit in the country's history. The trip aimed to promote chess, assess local efforts, and address challenges in establishing a national federation. Short engaged with promoters, officials, and players during the four-day program.
The visit by Nigel Short to Benin was part of FIDE's initiatives to support chess in countries without a national federation. Short's objectives included understanding promotion efforts, local challenges, and obstacles to federation establishment, with a focus on collaborative solutions.
Activities began with a working session at the Golden Tulip Le Diplomate Hotel, where chess club promoters shared insights. Elfried Dossavi-Messy, President of the Grand Roi Chess Club, highlighted achievements over the past decade, including a chess-in-schools program, tournaments, public events, and international connections, such as meetings with FIDE Executive Director Victor Bologan. Short expressed admiration for the progress despite no formal federation, stating that Benin was already performing better than many existing ones. He shared experiences from other countries and suggested solutions.
Short appeared on Canal 3's ACTU MATIN program with Dossavi-Messy and Victor Oyetola of La Forteresse Chess Club. Oyetola discussed chess's benefits for strategic thinking, anticipation, patience, and memory. Short praised the initiatives' quality and dynamism, noting favorable indicators for a federation. He mentioned that 20 million people play chess online daily and at least 1,000 Beninese participate regularly, predicting Benin would soon join FIDE.
A meeting with the Secretary General of Benin's Ministry of Sport, on behalf of the Minister, involved discussions on chess achievements and federation steps. The Secretary General affirmed the Ministry's support, conditional on compliance with national rules. Short outlined FIDE membership procedures and requested procedural simplification without interfering in domestic law.
On February 14, Short held a simultaneous exhibition against 20 Beninese players at the hotel, winning all games. He deemed the overall level acceptable and foresaw potential for FIDE Masters, International Masters, and Grandmasters from Benin with further training. FIDE Vice-President Olalekan Adeyemi attended, expressing satisfaction and promising increased support post-federation. Dossavi-Messy called the visit a success and urged efforts to establish the federation.
The trip concluded with a culinary tour and sightseeing in Ouidah, visiting sites like the sacred forest of Kpassèzounmè, the slave route, python temple, Basilica of Ouidah, arts market, and Door of No Return. It ended with a gift exchange between Short and Dossavi-Messy in Cotonou.