Wilkinson’s appointment by Arkady Dvorkovich, a day after the Russian was elected the new president of FIDE, was ratified by the FIDE General Assembly. He will now sit on the Presidential Board with executive officers and presidents of various continental associations.

Dvorkovich, a former deputy Prime Minister of Russia, was the head of Russia’s Organizing Committee for the immensely successful 2018 FIFA World Cup, widely regarded by many as the best ever. He had visited Jamaica on July 30 as part of his campaign for the FIDE presidency.

Wilkinson, Jamaica’s delegate to the FIDE Congress, supported Dvorkovich after the Executive Council of the JCF voted to do so.

During the sitting of the General Assembly Wilkinson was also elected to serve on the Constitutional Commission of FIDE, a crucial arm of the governing body of chess.

Of more than 20 persons seeking appointments to several Commissions, Wilkinson was the only candidate who was elected on the first day of voting, having received more than 50 per cent of the votes cast.