International Correspondence Chess Federation

The International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF) was established on 26 March 1951 as a successor to the International Correspondence Chess Association (ICCA), which itself succeeded the Internationaler Fernschachbund (IFSB) founded on 2 December 1928. The IFSB, led by R. Dührssen and others, organized tournaments and had notable champions like Paul Keres and Marcel Duchamp before its activities ceased during World War II.

The ICCF, with Eric Ruch as its current president, has grown to include 56 national member federations worldwide. It organizes various tournaments, including individual and team championships, using a language-independent chess notation. These events are held both in postal and online formats, with the addition of chess960 since 2011.

The ICCF collaborates closely with FIDE, ensuring that its titles and ratings are recognized internationally. Titles such as International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster (ICCGrandmaster) are awarded based on achievements in championships or by gaining sufficient norms in title tournaments. Other titles include SIM, IM, CCM, and CCE, while legacy titles like LGM and LIM are no longer awarded.

The federation's history is marked by its evolution from earlier correspondence chess organizations, reflecting a long-standing tradition of promoting correspondence chess globally.