A Russian-born businessman, Timur Turlov, has been elected president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The vote by representatives of 196 nations took place after the previous FIDE chief, Arkady Dvorkovich, had to resign under EU pressure. Turlov won the election with a significant majority, securing 110 votes in the second round. He will lead the organization, registered in Switzerland, which has been facing tensions over Western pressure on Russian sports.
Turlov, born in Moscow in 1987, moved to Kazakhstan in the early 2010s and acquired Kazakhstani citizenship in 2022. He is the founder of the Freedom Finance investment company, established in 2008. Turlov became the head of the Central Asian nation's chess federation in 2023 and is also the founding president of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), established in September 2024.
The previous FIDE chief, Arkady Dvorkovich, was forced to step down due to EU sanctions imposed on him over alleged public support for Russia's military operation against Ukraine. Dvorkovich had been leading FIDE since 2018 and blasted the EU's move as unlawful and unfair. He congratulated Turlov on his victory, saying that the new chief has already done a great deal for chess and will do even more now as FIDE President.
Turlov's election comes amid tensions within FIDE over Western pressure on Russian sports. In July, the EU put Dvorkovich on its personal sanctions list, and in August, FIDE barred Russian teams from returning to the Chess Olympiad. Russian Chess Federation Executive Director Aleksandr Tkachev accused FIDE's leadership of Russophobia, stating that some people prioritize personal interests.
The Russian Chess Federation (RCF) President Andrey Filatov had suggested that Russian Grandmaster Sergey Karyakin could seek the post after Dvorkovich. However, Karyakin, a native of Simferopol and now a senator representing Crimea, is also under EU sanctions. Turlov's victory showed he had significant backing within the international chess community, with 96 votes in the first round and 110 votes in the second round.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned restrictions imposed on Russian athletes by international sporting bodies as politically motivated. President Vladimir Putin has argued that comparable measures have not been applied to athletes from other countries involved in armed conflicts. Turlov called his election a great responsibility and a vote for a better future of the sport.
As the new FIDE President, Turlov will face challenges in navigating the organization's relationships with Western countries and managing the impact of sanctions on Russian chess players. He will also focus on promoting chess globally, building on his experience as the head of the Kazakh chess federation and the founding president of the ISCF.
Key points
- Timur Turlov, a Russian-born businessman, has been elected president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) with 110 votes in the second round.
- The previous FIDE chief, Arkady Dvorkovich, was forced to step down due to EU sanctions imposed on him over alleged public support for Russia's military operation against Ukraine.
- Turlov's election comes amid tensions within FIDE over Western pressure on Russian sports, with Moscow condemning restrictions imposed on Russian athletes as politically motivated.
