French Chess Federation Finally Loses Patience With Firouzja, Its Superstar Iranian Émigré
The decision has been made: GM Alireza Firouzja, the 22-year-old super-talent once hailed as GM Magnus Carlsen's natural successor, will not play for France again.
At least, until he shows more commitment.
That was the message that came from the French Chess Federation (FFE) as it announced its squad for this year's FIDE Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
For the ferociously ambitious Firouzja, it means missing out on the biggest chess jamboree of them all—the event where 200 nations send their teams to what is in effect the chess version of the Olympics, or the football World Cup. For many, it is the pinnacle of the game outside the World Championship.
But will it matter to him? In recent years, Firouzja's devotion to chess has been questioned with the Iranian-born migrant spending long periods mysteriously inactive and, according to an interview in 2023, indulging his love of fashion, not chess.
When it comes to playing for France, Firouzja has been even more absent. He did not play in the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, along with GMs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Étienne Bacrot, citing exhaustion and hot weather. He was also absent from the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest.
The two-time Iranian champion has not competed in his adopted country's national championship, won last year by GM Marc’Andria Maurizzi. Was that beneath him? Firouzja, along with MVL, chose instead to play at the Sinquefield Cup.
For the French team, at least on paper, his absence for a third Olympiad is a huge blow. Firouzja came to France in 2019 an émigré from the Iranian regime which stopped him playing Israeli players.
Firouzja was granted citizenship for his new home under a fast-track scheme and qualified to play for the French team in 2021, immediately leapfrogging MVL to become its number-one player.
It is believed the FFE paid a significant sum to recure his registration from Iran. Firouzja started repaying the federation's faith him at the 2021 European Team Championship where France won silver.
Five years later the FFE has washed its hands of him.
France's Loss
If Firouzja was selected for Samarkand instead of France's fifth-highest-rated French player, the French team average would be around 2667 FIDE. Without him, it drops to 2644. France is also ranked eighth in FIDE's list of top federations. It should be a contender.
In theory, losing the immensely-talented young star on board number one damages France's chances of a medal. But will it help team morale?
In a press release sent out on Tuesday, the federation justified its decision by criticising Firouzja's lack of loyalty to the team jersey.
A spokesperson said: "The national coach and technical directorate believe that representing the French national team requires a strong commitment to the national team project.
"Consequently, Alireza Firouzja will no longer be called up to the national team in the future, unless he clearly expresses his desire to permanently rejoin this collective endeavour.
"This decision in no way calls into question his immense talent or his freedom to prioritise his personal career, but rather serves to emphasise the importance of the commitment associated with wearing the French national team jersey."
Firouzja will, however, continue to compete individually at the highest level.
Last week he was battling with the best at the Grand Chess Tour's 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Poland event in Warsaw (see Lennart Ootes' picture above).
In August, he is expected to represent Team Falcons at the Esports World Cup. Firouzja finished second to Carlsen in the inaugural EWC chess event last year.
He has also earned an invite to October's 2026 Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot tournament, the new combined competition across Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz put on by FIDE in partnership with Norway Chess.
Is Firouzja out on his own now? Or is he just the great misunderstood talent of chess, waiting to explode?