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2026-09-28 13:46 UTC → 2026-10-03 06:52 UTC ·
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Timur Turlov FIDE presidency election and legal challenge
During Following his campaign for election as the eighth president of FIDE presidency, on September 26, 2026, Timur Turlov’s victory has faced legal challenges. While Turlov proposed increasing Ukrainian representation within secured the International Chess Federation leadership. Turlov suggested that Ukraine should nominate presidency by defeating German entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein in a candidate for Vice President second-round runoff (110 to ensure the nation 85 votes), his candidacy has sparked controversy regarding the federation’s internal regulations. Although Turlov holds a voice in decision-making processes, an idea that received support from Mykhailo Podolyak, Kazakh passport, he is a Russian national. Opponent Wadim Rosenstein has filed an adviser to appeal with the Head Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, questioning the Office consistency of the President FIDE’s application of Ukraine. Following the election at the FIDE General Assembly its own rules. A regulation passed in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 26, 2026, Turlov was elected as March 2022 prohibits individuals subject to sanctions or legal sentences from holding official or honorary positions within the eighth president of FIDE. After an initial round where he fell one vote short of an outright majority, a second-round runoff organization. While Turlov’s predecessor, Arkady Dvorkovich, was held between previously suspended due to European Union sanctions, Turlov and German entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein. Turlov secured his company, Freedom Holding Corp, are currently facing sanctions from Ukraine. Rosenstein is seeking an independent legal evaluation of whether the victory with 110 votes Electoral Commission’s decision to Rosenstein’s 85, defeating Jan Henric Buettner in the process. At 38, allow Turlov is the first representative from Kazakhstan to hold the position and the second-youngest president in FIDE history. run violates these established protocols. Turlov, a Kazakh businessman and the 38-year-old President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, will serve serves a four-year term through 2030. He ran on a joint ticket with five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, who was elected 2030 alongside Deputy President. Turlov succeeds Arkady Dvorkovich, who stepped down following his inclusion in European Union sanctions. The FIDE Council for the 2026–2030 term includes Vice Presidents Yuhua Xu (China), Michael Khodarkovsky (USA), Pavel Kolobkov (Russia), and Yassin Souleiman Hassan (Djibouti). Additionally, the President has nominated Luigi Maggi as Treasurer and Bouchra Kadiri as Secretary of the Council. In his new role, Turlov has pledged Viswanathan Anand. His administration aims to focus on digital transformation, professionalizing the organization, transformation and strengthening national federations. He has committed over federations, supported by a pledged $8.5 million toward FIDE’s development and has pledged to abide by Court of Arbitration for Sport rulings concerning the participation of Russian teams. FIDE’s development.