A selection of updates from the RBCF board

The start of 2026 has been a period of shaping plans and getting started. The groundworks have started and – with our chess year almost half over – it’s time to get into action mode and push things forward.

What are our neighbours doing?

As I wrote already in my previous update, we are commited to assessing our current state with our neighbouring countries. I have had the privilege of speaking with the presidents and/or representatives of the Dutch (KNSB), German (DE) and UK chess federations. The KNSB recently finalized a multi-year vision and strategy that serves as an inspiring example of future growth.

In this same spirit of international cooperation, we are currently exploring the possibility of organizing an event at the ECU level. While still in the early investigation phase, we hope to potentially facilitate a corporate-focused tournament later this year to bridge the gap between the chess world and the professional sector.

Administrator action plans

As mentioned in our last update, each of our administrators has been hard at work defining their specific areas of focus. We believe that volunteering work deserves both visibility and clarity. To that end, the action plans for each administrator are also being published on this website. The complete collection will be accessible from the Administrative Council overview page.

From the board of administrators, we all remain very much open to your feedback on these initiatives. Our contact details are available on that same page. Please don’t hesitate to reach out in case of questions or feedback.

Upcoming events & initiatives

• Meet us at the BYC: In less than two weeks, the Belgian Youth Championship kicks off in Blankenberge. The board will be there on Saturday 21.02 for our board meeting. Please feel free to approach us with any questions or remarks.
• The Club Day call for organizers: We have defined our “Club Day” initiative more in detail. We are now looking at hosting three events, one in each of the language federations. This is a project we want to build with you, so if your club would like to contribute, please do get in touch.

Membership and FIDE migration

We are moving forward with our new membership system. While the pace is perhaps a bit slower than I had initially hoped, we are moving ahead towards the first milestone: the validated import of our existing database in the Odoo system. Once this is complete, we will begin a testing phase with a selection of clubs and players. More information, including a call for participation, to follow when we’re clear on the timing.

Regarding the FIDE migration, we are pushing FIDE to provide us details and timelines. In the meantime, we are already onboarding volunteers to help manage the substantial task of tournament registrations and reporting.

Embrace change

Change often brings a degree of friction. While especially in the first phase, we don’t have all the answers to what’s coming. We aim to progress with open communication and constructive feedback, to find the best way forward. Be open for new ways of working, and keep reflecting on what you are currently doing – and why you’re doing it!

I’m available at steven.bellens@frbe-kbsb-ksb.be, or the whole RBCF team at info@frbe-kbsb-ksb.be.