2026 FIDE Presidential Election to Be Held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Three candidates—Timur Turlov, Wadim Rosenstein, and Jan Henric Buettner—are running in the International Chess Federation's presidential election on September 26.
Three official presidential candidates will compete in the critical International Chess Federation presidential election scheduled for September 26 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with the new president to lead more than 200 federations.
Election Date and Venue
The elections to determine the new president of the International Chess Federation will take place as part of the General Assembly to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 26. Following the completion of the nomination process in July, the three competing official tickets have become clear.
Competing Presidential Candidates
Three different presidential tickets are vying for leadership in the elections. These candidates include Timur Turlov alongside Viswanathan Anand, Wadim Rosenstein alongside Gordon Tang, and Jan Henric Buettner alongside Malcolm Pein. All of the candidates consist of business leaders who have made significant investments in the chess world.
Timur Turlov and Viswanathan Anand
Timur Turlov is the president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and founder of Freedom Holding Corp. Initially serving as a deputy to incumbent president Arkady Dvorkovich, Turlov rose to presidential candidacy after Dvorkovich withdrew due to European Union sanctions, bringing five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand onto his ticket.
Jan Henric Buettner and Malcolm Pein
German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner, the figure behind the Freestyle Chess project, has entered the race alongside British chess organizer Malcolm Pein. Buettner has raised criticisms regarding neutrality, rules, and allegations during the election process.
Wadim Rosenstein and Gordon Tang
Germany-based businessman and WR Chess founder Wadim Rosenstein is running on a joint ticket with Singapore-based businessman Gordon Tang. Rosenstein is conducting his campaign on an international level and has requested reviews regarding the eligibility of a rival candidate.
Voting System and Authorities
The elections are conducted under a system where each eligible FIDE member federation has a single vote. The candidate who secures a majority of the valid votes will win and take over the leadership of the institution representing more than 200 national federations.