Kazakh, German businessmen vie for FIDE presidency

Kazakh businessman Timur Turlov, German financiers Jan Henric Buettner, and Wadim Rosenstein are vying for the presidency of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Elections are set for September 26 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking a new era for the organization.

The race opened after Russian Arkady Dvorkovich withdrew his candidacy for a third term. Dvorkovich, a former Russian deputy prime minister, was placed on EU sanctions lists due to the war in Ukraine. Although he had previously spoken out against the war, his ties to the Kremlin led to his removal from the electoral race.

Turlov, born in Moscow and now president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, is seen as the continuity candidate. He was expected to run alongside Dvorkovich and has since partnered with Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who has taken over as interim FIDE president. Turlov, founder of Freedom Holding Corp, aims to bring more stability, digitalization, and school integration to chess.

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I believe Timur has the vision, the energy and the experience to maintain the momentum we have built in recent years.

Anand expressed confidence in Turlov, stating, "I believe Timur has the vision, the energy, and the experience to maintain the momentum we have built in recent years." Buettner, a Hamburg-based businessman, is associated with a circuit launched in 2024 with support from world champion Magnus Carlsen.

Former FIDE president Kirsán Ilyumzhinov, who led the organization from 1995 to 2018, had considered running with Russian backing but ultimately did not formalize his candidacy. Turlov, who renounced his Russian citizenship after the invasion of Ukraine, was nonetheless included in Ukraine's list of sanctioned Russian businessmen. He stated a year ago, "I want to build bridges, not destroy them."

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I want to build bridges, not destroy them.