Kazakhstan has entered the race for the top job in world chess. KazChess President Timur Turlov has announced his candidacy for President of the International Chess Federation, DKNews.kz reports.
The businessman revealed his decision on Instagram. According to Turlov, chess is experiencing a new wave of growth: millions of young players are joining the game, digital platforms are erasing borders, and professional tournaments are attracting more viewers and investors.
“However, today a federation with a century-long history stands at a crossroads. The progress already made cannot be stopped or erased. I believe we need to accelerate it, inject new energy into development and keep moving forward. That is why I have decided to run for President of the International Chess Federation.”
From Freedom to global chess
Turlov points to his management experience as one of his main advantages. Over 15 years, he built Freedom into an international financial and technology group.
According to the businessman, the publicly traded company has a market capitalization of $10 billion. The group operates in 22 countries, serves more than 14 million clients and employs 11,000 people.
For FIDE, his candidacy signals a potential focus on corporate governance, digital transformation and new revenue streams. The global chess audience is expanding faster than the traditional system of tournaments, sponsorships and federation management.
What Turlov has changed in Kazakhstan
Turlov became President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation in 2023. Since then, the country has hosted several major international events and strengthened its position on the global chess map.
“In 2023, I became President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. Since then, we have hosted the match for the men’s world championship title and the World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships. In just one month, my home city of Almaty will host the World University Team Championship.”
Kazakhstan’s model extends beyond professional tournaments. Chess is gaining a stronger presence in schools, digital services and grassroots sport — an approach Turlov now intends to scale internationally.
For Kazakhstan, his candidacy goes far beyond sports. The FIDE President can shape the calendar of major tournaments, youth chess development, digital platforms, the work of national federations and the commercial appeal of the game.
Viswanathan Anand joins Turlov’s ticket
Turlov is running alongside Viswanathan Anand, the 15th World Chess Champion. The Indian grandmaster is seeking the position of FIDE Deputy President.
Turlov had initially planned to run for Deputy President on a joint ticket with incumbent FIDE chief Arkady Dvorkovich. The campaign changed after Dvorkovich suspended the exercise of his presidential powers.
His duties were temporarily transferred to Anand. Turlov and Anand are now entering the election as a joint ticket.
The partnership combines Turlov’s business experience with Anand’s global standing in chess. That combination could become one of their strongest arguments when national federation delegates cast their votes.
When the election will take place
The FIDE Congress will be held in Samarkand in September 2026. The General Assembly meeting and the completion of the election are scheduled for September 26–27.
Delegates representing national chess federations will choose the next president. The vote will determine more than who leads FIDE — it will shape the direction of global chess for years to come.
