Chess-Kazakh Turlov elected FIDE president with Russia, governance issues in focus

BENGALURU, Sept 26 : Kazakh businessman Timur Turlov was elected the eighth president of world chess governing body FIDE on Saturday after a closely fought contest at the organisation's General Assembly in Samarkand, securing a four-year term and succeeding Arkady Dvorkovich, who had led the body since 2018.

Turlov defeated German entrepreneurs Wadim Rosenstein and Jan Henric Buettner in an election widely viewed as a defining vote for FIDE at a time when the federation faces scrutiny over Russian influence, financial independence and the long-term direction of the global game.

Of FIDE's 204 member federations, 202 were eligible to vote after the Russian and Rwandan federations were suspended.

A total of 192 valid votes were counted in the opening round. Turlov led with 96 votes, exactly 50 per cent of the valid ballots and one short of the outright majority required for victory, forcing a runoff against Rosenstein.

Turlov secured the presidency in the second round, defeating Rosenstein by 110 votes to 85.

"I am grateful to the chess community for placing its trust in me," Turlov told Reuters.

"A strong FIDE must mean strong national federations and more opportunities for people to discover and play chess at the grassroots level."

Buettner wished Turlov success after the result.

"The decision deserves our full respect. I wish the new leadership every success, because when FIDE succeeds, chess succeeds," he said in a statement to Reuters.

DVORKOVICH SUCCESSOR

The race was transformed this year when Dvorkovich, a former Russian deputy prime minister, withdrew his bid for a third term after being included in a European Union sanctions package.

Turlov had initially been part of Dvorkovich's presidential ticket before launching an