Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand has been named as the deputy presidential candidate on Timur Turlov’s ticket for the upcoming FIDE elections after incumbent president Arkady Dvorkovich suspended himself following European Union sanctions.
Kazakh businessman and chess patron Timur Turlov officially announced his candidacy on Friday, with Anand set to continue in a senior leadership role if the pair are elected during September’s FIDE General Assembly.
Why is Turlov running?
Turlov was initially expected to contest the election as deputy president alongside Dvorkovich.
However, those plans changed after the European Union imposed sanctions on Dvorkovich, prompting the Russian official to voluntarily suspend himself as FIDE president with immediate effect.
In a statement, Dvorkovich said he had decided to “voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties as FIDE President with immediate effect,” with Anand assuming presidential responsibilities on an interim basis.
Anand said his immediate priority was “ensuring continuity and serving the global chess family.”
Turlov outlines vision for FIDE
Announcing his campaign, Turlov said the international chess federation was entering a pivotal phase.
“A federation with a century of history stands at a crossroads,” he wrote.
He added that the progress made in recent years “must be intensified, given fresh energy, and carried forward.”
Turlov also praised Anand, calling the Indian chess legend central to his plans.
“It is a true honor for me to share with him a common vision for the future of chess worldwide.”
He described Anand as “a great champion, a legend of world chess, and FIDE Deputy President since 2022.”
Who is Timur Turlov?
Moscow-born Turlov has lived in Kazakhstan since 2011 and became a Kazakh citizen in 2022 after relinquishing his Russian and St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship.
He currently serves as president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and also heads the International School Chess Federation (ISCF).
Through his company, Freedom Holding, Turlov has become one of chess’s biggest financial backers, claiming to have invested more than $75 million into the sport. His company has sponsored several major events, including the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York, and recently acquired chess software company ChessBase.
Who else is contesting the FIDE election?
The FIDE presidential election will take place during the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September.
Turlov joins three other declared candidates:
- Wadim Rosenstein
- Jan Henric Buettner
- Former FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
Ilyumzhinov, who led FIDE from 1995 to 2018, has received backing from the Russian Chess Federation, despite the federation currently remaining suspended.
The election comes amid significant uncertainty within world chess administration following Dvorkovich’s suspension, with Anand now playing a central role both in FIDE’s interim leadership and in Turlov’s bid to lead the governing body.
Story first published: Saturday, July 25, 2026, 10:59 [IST]
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