Timur Turlov elected President of FIDE

Timur Turlov, a Kazakh businessman and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., has been elected as the eighth president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The election took place on September 26, 2026, during the FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, held alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad.

After a first-round vote where Turlov fell one vote short of an absolute majority, a runoff was held between Turlov and German entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein. Turlov secured the presidency with 110 votes to Rosenstein’s 85. Jan Henric Buettner was eliminated in the first round. Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand was elected as Deputy President on Turlov’s ticket.

Turlov succeeds Arkady Dvorkovich, who stepped down following his inclusion in European Union sanctions. Turlov, who holds Kazakhstani citizenship, has pledged to focus on digital transformation, increasing FIDE’s investment by millions of dollars, and strengthening national federations. His four-year mandate runs through 2030.