Francisco (Franc) Guadalupe is a US Chess National Tournament Director and one of only two USA FIDE International Arbiters Category A. In 2013, he served as the US Chess Interim Executive Director followed by duties as the US Chess Director of Events until December 2017. In addition, Franc served as the FIDE USA Zonal President for seven years. He also served as the Chair of the US Chess FIDE Events Committee, a member of the Tournament Director Certification Committee and the Scholastic Committee.
Franc has been the Chief TD/Chief Arbiter of over 55 National Championships, including six US Championships, three US Open Championships, and two US Chess SuperNationals. In addition, he served as the Deputy Chief Arbiter of two additional US Championships. In 2016, he was selected by FIDE to perform duties as the Deputy Chief Arbiter of the World Chess Championship between World Champion GM Magnus Carlsen and Challenger GM Sergey Karjakin.
In 2009, at the request of the Belize Chess Federation, and with the consent of the US Chess Federation, Franc traveled to that country to train their chess tournament directors and organizers. After his appointment as FIDE USA Zonal President in 2010, he traveled to numerous countries for FIDE meetings and to accompany youth chess delegations.
