The European Chess Union (ECU) held its landmark General Assembly today, Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the prestigious premises of the Romanian Olympic Committee in Bucharest. In a highly anticipated election featuring a three-way race for the leadership of European chess, incumbent President Zurab Azmaiparashvili secured a decisive victory to extend his mandate.
A total of 53 out of 54 member federations cast their votes during the session. Azmaiparashvili comfortably retained his presidency by receiving 35 votes, establishing a clear majority over his challengers. Lukasz Turlej finished second with 11 votes, while Bachar Kouatly received 7 votes.
Individually elected ECU Vice Presidents are: Sarkhan Gashimov, Roman Muzik, and Jean Michel Rapaire. The ECU General Assembly also re-elected the ECU Auditor Peter Wyss.
The General Assembly opened by welcoming two world-renowned sports figures as distinguished guests of honor: Nadia Elena Comăneci, the legendary five-time Olympic gymnastics champion and one of the greatest athletes in history, and Mihai Claudiu Covaliu, Olympic fencing champion and current President of the Romanian Olympic Committee.
The presence of the two Olympic champions served a vital strategic purpose. Backed by regional Olympic committees, the ECU utilized the gathering to strongly reaffirm its ongoing campaign for chess to be officially recognized as an Olympic sport.
With the elections concluded, Azmaiparashvili’s administration moves forward with a clear mandate to guide European chess through the upcoming cycle, anchoring its focus on institutional growth and the continued push toward broader Olympic integration.
Azmaiparashvili ticket:
ECU President: Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili
Deputy President: Mr. Vlad Ardeleanu
Vice President: Mrs. Ingrid Lauterbach
Vice President: Mr. Lasse Ostebo Lovik
Secretary General: Mr. Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou
Treasurer: Mrs. Prabitha Urwyler
