IM Georgios Makropoulos, a seven-time Greek chess champion who became one of the most powerful figures in international chess for decades, has passed away at the age of 72.
The Greek Chess Federation and the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced his death on Tuesday, September 15.
FIDE is deeply saddened by the passing of Georgios Makropoulos, FIDE Vice President, Honorary President of the Greek Chess Federation, International Master, seven-time Greek Champion, and one of the most influential figures in international chess administration over the past four… pic.twitter.com/tzuQ3EJPLP
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 15, 2026
Born in Thessaloniki in 1953, Makropoulos won the Greek Championship seven times between 1971 and 1985 and received the IM title in 1979. He represented Greece at three Chess Olympiads, twice playing on the first board.
Makropoulos led the Greek Chess Federation from 1982 until 2021 and helped bring the 1984 and 1988 Chess Olympiads to Thessaloniki. He entered FIDE’s senior leadership in 1986, later serving as general secretary from 1990 to 1996, deputy president from 1996 to 2015, and acting FIDE president from 2015-2018, when Kirsan Ilyumzhinov stepped down from an active role after being sanctioned. After losing the 2018 presidential election to Arkady Dvorkovich, he returned to FIDE’s leadership as an elected vice president in 2022.
At the time of his death, Makropoulos was serving on the FIDE Council. He was one of 18 approved candidates seeking election for four elected vice-president positions at this month’s General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
“Makropulos was a person, whose absence is immediately noticeable,” FIDE CEO GM Emil Sutovsky wrote on X. “And I find it difficult to grasp he is no more.”
Rest in Peace Giorgos… pic.twitter.com/RTMygj7e2t
— European Chess Union (@ECUonline) September 15, 2026
Very sad news from Greece.
Georgios Makropulos was one of the most impactful and charismatic figures in the chess world for many years.
We spent dozens or maybe hundreds of hours arguing and discussing, and I grew to appreciate his sharp mind and emotional intelligence… pic.twitter.com/PRfjPHTbCy
— Emilchess (@EmilSutovsky) September 15, 2026
I got to know him very well, a passionate believer in democracy, loved FIDE and a master campaigner. Wicked sense of humour and also a composer of some very cool chess studies. I will miss him. https://t.co/tnoiNNTEkj
— Malcolm Pein (@TelegraphChess) September 15, 2026
I last spoke to “Makro” just before the 2022 FIDE Presidential election, when we met by chance entering the hall
I asked him, can you help with 80 votes ?
He said sorry, I only have 50.We often disagreed politically, but I always enjoyed his humor and respected his competence. https://t.co/cMgevC8KOM
— Peter Heine Nielsen (@PHChess) September 15, 2026
