Timur Turlov launches bid for FIDE presidency ahead of 2026 election

Timur Turlov, chief executive of Freedom Holding Corp. and president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, announced his candidacy for president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The election is scheduled for 26‑27 September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, during FIDE’s General Assembly and the 46th World Chess Olympiad.

Turlov, who was previously nominated for a vice‑presidential role, outlined three strategic priorities: a digital overhaul with a unified player platform and artificial‑intelligence tools, expansion of school‑age chess programs, and financial sustainability for national federations. He proposes a single‑account system modelled on Kazakhstan’s KazChess ID platform. The candidate highlighted over $75 million invested in Kazakh chess development and cited former world champion Viswanathan Anand as a potential vice‑president on his ticket.