Making a new FIDE rating rule easy to understand

Goal

Explain a complex new FIDE rating rule in a way that’s easy to understand, engaging and shareable, while driving interest in the app and keeping existing users engaged.

Hook

The cover reads “FIDE nerfs Hikaru’s rating exploit.” FIDE’s logo next to a “sad” photo of Hikaru Nakamura creates instant contrast. The rule isn’t only about Hikaru, but tying it to a well-known figure gives people a reason to stop and swipe.

Storytelling choices

The first slides set context: why this player is affected and what led here, so the audience understands why the update matters before the technical details. FIDE’s CEO reaction (“No more farming”) and an excerpt from his tweet add tension and break up the explanation.

The middle slides then compare how the system worked before, what the new rule says, and how it works now, each slide building on the last.

Execution

I researched the rule in depth before breaking it down visually and in text. The final slides end with a clear call to action toward the app.

What I learned

Clear structure and context matter more than visual complexity for difficult topics. A curiosity-driven hook works, as long as what follows delivers real value.

Result

• 4.2M+ impressions on Instagram
• 5.1K likes, 510 shares and 337 saves
• One of the content team's best-performing stories at the time, with comments praising its clarity