In the wake of the European Union imposing official sanctions on FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Kazakhstani businessman and chess organizer Timur Turlov has officially announced his bid to run for the presidency of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Turlov, who currently serves as the head of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and the obscure International School Chess Federation, announced that he will enter the upcoming elections alongside five-time World Champion and current FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand. He is however sanctioned by Ukraine.
Addressing the chess community, Turlov emphasized that international chess has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by digital expansion, commercial interest, and millions of new young players, but warned that the governing body now stands at a critical juncture.
Turlov highlighted his background as the founder of Freedom Holding, a public financial services company capitalized at $10 billion with operations spanning 22 countries. Over the past few years, Turlov has poured more than millions into global chess initiatives, funding infrastructure in Kazakhstan, hosting the 2023 World Championship Match in Astana and organizing the World Team Rapid & Blitz Championships.
In his announcement, Turlov outlined a vision of an open, modern, and financially sound FIDE capable of bridging geopolitical divides. Pointing to Kazakhstan’s position as a diplomatic mediator, he expressed confidence in his ability to build consensus across member federations.
“I see FIDE as a strong global institution that should take a qualitative step forward in several directions at once,” Turlov noted. “My country is able to build dialogue with the most different states and find a balance where others see contradictions. I am convinced: this is exactly the kind of open and unifying FIDE that should be.”
Running alongside Turlov on the ticket is Viswanathan Anand, who has served as FIDE Vice President since 2022. The inclusion of the Indian grandmaster provides significant sporting credibility and continuity to the leadership campaign.
“With this vision, I am going to the upcoming elections together with Vishwanathan Anand, a great champion and legend of world chess,” Turlov concluded. “It is an honor for me to share with him the common vision of the future of world chess.”
