Jan Henric Buettner Announces Candidacy for the Presidency of FIDE
The race for the FIDE Presidentship is getting very exciting. Two people have already announced that they will be running for the top spot of chess governance - Wadim Rosenstein and Jan Buettner. In this article we present to you the press release shared by Jan Henric Buettner and his team.
Hamburg, Germany – 26 June 2026
Entrepreneur, investor, and chess patron Jan Henric Buettner today announced that he will stand as a
candidate for the Presidency of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) at the forthcoming FIDE General Assembly.
Buettner confirmed that Malcolm Pein, one of the world's most respected chess organisers, publishers,
and international chess leaders, has agreed to join his ticket as candidate for Deputy President.
The campaign will be built on a simple principle: A stronger FIDE must mean stronger national federations. Speaking after returning from the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in Hong Kong, where he met personally with delegates from around the world, Buettner said:
"Over the past months, many respected members of the international chess community have encouraged me to stand for the Presidency of FIDE. After extensive discussions with delegates from every continent, I have decided to accept that responsibility.
Chess has never enjoyed greater global visibility or greater potential. The next chapter should focus on empowering our member federations, expanding opportunities for players at every level, strengthening governance and transparency, and creating sustainable long-term growth for our sport." Rather than launching a traditional political campaign centered on promises, Buettner announced that the coming weeks will be dedicated to an extensive worldwide consultation with all member federations.
Every federation will be invited to participate in personal discussions about its priorities, challenges and ambitions. The feedback from these meetings will directly shape the campaign's final manifesto, which will be presented ahead of the FIDE General Assembly. "Leadership begins by listening. Every federation has different challenges and different aspirations. Before presenting final proposals, I want to hear directly from those we are here to serve. My objective is not simply to win an election. It is to build a programme that genuinely reflects the needs of the global chess community."
Buettner emphasized that his campaign will focus on partnership, integrity, transparency, measurable outcomes, and service leadership. Its priorities will include:
• strengthening national federations through practical support;
• expanding commercial partnerships and sponsorship opportunities;
• growing chess in schools and among young people;
• increasing opportunities for women and emerging chess nations;
• improving transparency and governance;
• accelerating digital innovation; and
• creating sustainable long-term growth for the global chess ecosystem.
Malcolm Pein said: "Jan brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial experience, international credibility and genuine passion for chess. We share the conviction that FIDE's greatest responsibility is to serve and strengthen its member federations. I am delighted to join him in this campaign."
The campaign has already begun engaging with federations across all continents and will continue to meet personally with every member federation in the weeks leading up to the General Assembly. "We approach this election with respect for everyone who has contributed to world chess over many years," Buettner concluded.
"Our campaign is not about personalities. It is about the future of chess, about serving our federations, and about working together to create new opportunities for players, organisers and federations across every continent. The campaign will be built on a simple principle: FIDE has over 200 national federations as its ultimate beneficial stakeholders. A stronger FIDE must mean stronger national federations"
This is a press release sent by Jan Henric Buettner and his team.
Media Contact
Campaign Office of Jan Henric Buettner
Till Behrend
t.behrend@hock-partner.de
+49 151 42317721
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