Since Dvorkovich was sanctioned yesterday by the EU<\/a> for “supporting actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, or stability or security in Ukraine,” events have moved fast. Dvorkovich announced<\/a> he had “decided to voluntarily suspend the exercise of [his] powers and duties as FIDE President with immediate effect” and passed his role to his deputy.<\/p>\n Anand accepted, saying his focus will be on “ensuring continuity and serving the global chess family.”<\/p>\n Following the decision by President Arkady Dvorkovich to suspend the exercise of his duties, and in accordance with the FIDE Charter, I have assumed the responsibilities of Interim President.<\/p>\n I want to thank Arkady for his leadership and for putting the interests and stability\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/KexdV5WLal<\/a> Anand had been expected to step back from FIDE duties after the next election, but instead he’s once more a candidate to become FIDE deputy president, this time under Turlov, who announced his candidacy on Facebook<\/a>. Turlov says of FIDE, “a federation with a century of history stands at a crossroads,” and states recent progress, “must be intensified, given fresh energy, and carried forward.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Turlov has been based in Kazakhstan since 2011, and renounced his Russian and St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship to become a citizen of Kazakhstan in 2022, after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine. In 2023, he became the president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, while he also heads the newly established International School Chess Federation (ISCF).<\/p>\n Turlov’s NASDAQ-listed Freedom Holding company has been the major sponsor for numerous events, including the 2024 World Rapid & Blitz Championships<\/a> that were held on Wall Street in New York. He says he’s invested more than $75 million into chess, while his company has also acquired the German company ChessBase<\/a>.<\/p>\n Turlov ends his announcement of his “open and uniting” vision for FIDE by referring to Anand as, “a great champion, a legend of world chess, and FIDE Deputy President since 2022,” adding, “It is a true honor for me to share with him a common vision for the future of chess worldwide.”<\/p>\n The FIDE presidential election will take place during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad<\/a> in Samarkand, Uzbekistan this September, with four candidates currently likely to stand. Turlov is joined by Rosenstein and Buettner<\/a>, as well as Ilyumzhinov, who served as FIDE president from 1995 to 2018. The latter has gained the support of the Russian Chess Federation, although the federation itself is currently suspended<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Chess Federation of Russia will support Kirsan Ilyumzhinov for the FIDE presidency, Andrey Filatov confirmed this to TASS https:\/\/t.co\/OznTVJOgtk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chess Federation of Russia (@ruchess_eng<\/span>) July 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Russian Chess Federation President Andrey Filatov told Russian state-run news agency TASS, “one is out [Dvorkovich], and the other is in,” of the potential Russian candidates.\n <\/p><\/div>\n\n
\n\u2014 Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking<\/span>) July 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.chesscomfiles.com\/uploads\/v1\/images_users\/tiny_mce\/Colin_McGourty\/phpvc7sie5ttbn7cZRZ4vO.jpg\")
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