Arkady Dvorkovich to seek third term as FIDE President
With two people already having announced their willingness to run for the post of FIDE President - Wadim Rosenstein and Jan Buettner, it was now time for the incumbent FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich to announce his willingness to seek the post of FIDE President for the third term. Viswanathan Anand will no longer be the one who become the Deputy President if Dvorkovich wins. It would be Timur Turlov.
Incumbent FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has announced he will seek a third term as President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Dvorkovich has said he will focus on providing more practical support for national federations, digital modernisation, youth development, stronger commercial partnerships and bringing FIDE closer to those it serves.
The presidential election will take place at the FIDE General Assembly, during the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan, held in September this year. Dvorkovich has so far been elected twice to the position of FIDE President – in Batumi (Georgia) in 2018 and in Chennai (India) in 2022.
Since becoming FIDE President, Dvorkovich has overseen a period of significant expansion in international chess. This includes record global audiences, a rise in the number of online and in-person tournaments, bigger prizes and more women’s events, increased participation, more funding, new commercial partnerships and wider support for national federations and development programmes.
Announcing his decision, Dvorkovich said: “Over the past two terms, our priority was to stabilise FIDE, restore confidence and expand opportunities across the chess world. Together with our member federations, players, organisers, arbiters, volunteers and partners, we have helped bring chess to millions of new people.”
“But growth alone is not enough. Success also creates new responsibilities. The next stage must be about renewal. FIDE must become even more open, more efficient and more responsive. It must do more to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and turn more directly towards those who make chess possible - federations, players, clubs, organisers, arbiters, coaches, schools and volunteers.”
Dvorkovich’s priorities for the next term will include simplifying services for national federations, reducing bureaucracy inside FIDE, expanding digital tools, providing more direct support to federations, investing in youth and grassroots programmes, improving financial stability and growing chess in regions with major development potential, including Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“Our goal is simple: to make it easier for federations to develop players, organise events, attract sponsors, support schools and create opportunities for the next generation.”
Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, President of the International School Chess Federation and founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., will run alongside Dvorkovich as the candidate for FIDE Deputy President.
Turlov has been a major supporter of chess development, with a particular focus on youth, education and digital modernisation of federation services. Under his leadership, Kazakhstan has become one of the world’s fastest-growing chess nations, expanding school chess programmes, hosting major international events and investing in young players.
Dvorkovich said that Turlov’s nomination reflects the campaign’s emphasis on renewal, new people and practical delivery. Turlov said: “The results we have achieved in Kazakhstan have convinced me of a simple truth: a practical, modern and digital approach to chess development works - and it can be scaled globally. We have expanded school chess, invested in young players, hosted major international events and made chess more visible and prestigious. I am honoured to run alongside Arkady Dvorkovich and help bring that same focus on digitalisation, efficiency and direct support to national federations across FIDE.”
Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, who has served as FIDE Deputy President since 2022, will continue to play an important role in Dvorkovich’s team.
“I will continue supporting the campaign and contributing my experience to FIDE’s work, especially in helping emerging and developing federations grow the game,” Anand said.
In the coming weeks, Arkady Dvorkovich and his team will present a detailed programme outlining their priorities for the next four years, developed through consultations with national federations and other key stakeholders across the global chess community.
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