Profile
Bachar Kouatly has built a career at the crossroads of the chess world and the business world. A high-level player who became French Chess Champion and competed in the World Championship cycle, he went on to play a key role in the organization and development of chess at the international level, holding major institutional positions including Deputy President of FIDE and President of the French Chess Federation.
He holds degrees from Sciences Po and in energy economics.
Chess Career
A high-level chess player, Bachar Kouatly became French Chess Champion and competed in the World Championship cycle, qualifying after his victory in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in 1981.
In 1989, he became the first International Grandmaster from the Arab world and the Francophone world.
Chess Organization & Leadership
Bachar Kouatly played a key role in the organization and development of chess at the international level. In 1990, he organized the World Chess Championship match between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov in Lyon.
He served as Editor-in-Chief of the monthly magazine Europe Échecs, founded in 1959.
A pioneer of digital innovation in his field, he launched one of the first chess websites in 1997 and went on to develop online gaming platforms in 2001 that remain active today. He also collaborated with The Walt Disney Company and Anatoly Karpov on a highly successful children's chess book, translated into 15 languages.
Institutional Roles
He has held major institutional roles in the governance of chess, serving as Deputy President of FIDE (the International Chess Federation) and as President of the French Chess Federation.
Business & Entrepreneurship
Alongside his chess career, Bachar Kouatly developed strong entrepreneurial and financial activities. He contributed to the creation of Red Hat France in 2000, founded an investment fund in Europe in 2004, and has been involved in numerous investments across the continent.
Since 2000, he has also authored several books.