FIDE ELO – arbiter requirements (4/4)

14.12.2025 This article has been updated to reflect the changes included in the voted proposal to migrate to FIDE ELO. The proposal has been approved on the General Assembly meeting of 06.12.2025

This is the last of four articles explaining the arbiter requirements:

1. the FIDE ELO system, calculation rules and differences with our national ELO system
2. the FIDE ELO cost structure
3. the FIDE ELO reporting requirements
4. the FIDE ELO arbiter requirements

In order for a tournament to be eligible for FIDE ELO processing:

• all listed arbiter must have a FIDE arbiter license and there must always be at least one chief arbiter
• there must be a chief organizer who must have a FIDE ID

List of FIDE arbiters

The FIDE arbiter database lists all FIDE licensed arbiters. Currently, 124 arbiters from the Belgian Federation are registered as FIDE licensed arbiter.

When examining our national player database, we have a total of 245 registered national arbiters. This means that approximately 50% of national arbiters currently holds a FIDE arbiter license.

How do I become a FIDE licensed arbiter?

FIDE distinguishes between multiple arbiter levels. This article does not aim to give an overview of all different levels, but rather explains the minimum requirements to be – as a national arbiter – included in the FIDE arbiter list.

The FIDE handbook B.06.1 describes the requirements that candidates need to fullfill in order to become a FIDE licensed arbiter. Article 5.1 currently reads:

5.1 National federations may register their Arbiters of National level(s) with FIDE after approval by the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission.
5.1.1 Arbiters of National Level shall be at least 16 years old.

National Arbiters are thus eligible for FIDE registration by a simple registration procedure.

I am a National Arbiter – how do I register myself as a FIDE licensed arbiter?

1. Make a request to fide@frbe-kbsb-ksb.be to be registered as a FIDE licensed arbiter.
2. Attach a photo of yourself with the dimensions 480 x 600 pixels (exact!). This picture will be published both on the RBCF and FIDE websites.
3. Pay the invoice of € 20 that will be sent to you by our treasurer.
   From the approval of the FIDE migration onwards, the RBCF pays this registration fee. There is no cost for you as a registering arbiter.
4. The FIDE delegate of the RBCF initiates the license request with FIDE.
5. After approximately one week (typically), FIDE will confirm reception and approval of the license.

How big is this arbiter problem when we switch to FIDE only reporting?

One of the arguments against moving to a FIDE-only ranking system, is the lack of FIDE licensed arbiters.

Let us examine a bit more in detail the situation in Belgium. First of all, we go look in the national elo reporting archives. When we take the last year of games reported (01.07.2023 → 30.06.2024) we have 88 different club numbers submitting reports.

Next, we look at the player database, and analyse the registered national arbiters. The 245 registered arbiters mentioned earlier, belong to 93 different clubs.

We then cross compare the clubs submitting ELO reports with the clubs that have active arbiters. This shows us that we have a total of 11 clubs that are actively submitting ELO reports, yet do not have a licensed national arbiter as one of their members.

Here is a list of these 11 clubs: 195, 204, 305, 318, 340, 351, 410, 460, 520, 737, 909

How do I become a National Arbiter?

The appointment of arbiters is a responsibility of the community federations. This means that the procedure is different depending on the region you and your club are located in. Actions are currently ongoing to make these systems more uniform.

The Flemish community: the VSF is responsible. Their internal regulations (article 6) mention as requirements:

• being affiliated to the VSF organisation
• passing the examen of arbiter-C

The French community: the FEFB is responsible. Their arbiter regulations mention as requirements:

• Having followed the courses and succeeded in the theoretical arbitration examination
• Perform a practical internship as a assistant referee during two tournaments including results are approved by the fide
• Having during these two tournaments, demonstrated his technical, ethical and arbitrator behavior
• To do this, the main referees of these two tournaments will each transmit for theirs an assessment report to the FEFB manager of arbitration

The German community: the SVDB is responsible.