The World Chess Federation (FIDE) is preparing for a pivotal leadership election on Saturday, September 26, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. While the organization’s motto is “Gens una sumus,” or “We are one family,” the upcoming congress is marked by a contentious three-way race that contrasts sharply with the spirit of unity. Incumbent President Arkady Dvorkovich will not seek re-election, having been placed on European Union sanctions lists in July due to his support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. His departure marks the end of more than three decades of Russian leadership at the helm of global chess.
The contest features Kazakh billionaire Timur Turlov and two German candidates: investor Jan Henric Buettner and entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein, who is the official nominee of the German Chess Federation (DSB). With the Kremlin viewing chess as a key element of its soft power, questions regarding the candidates’ connections to Russia and the origins of FIDE’s funding dominate the discourse.
Jan Henric Buettner, a 62-year-old Hamburg native and former AOL executive, argues that he is the only candidate with no ties to Moscow. Collaborating closely with former world champion Magnus Carlsen, Buettner has positioned himself as an outsider to the current power structure. His running mate, Malcolm Pein, stated explicitly that their team lacks any Russian connection. Buettner’s platform aims to reduce reliance on Russian financial backers by adopting a commercial model similar to Formula 1 motorsport. He has proposed distributing 20% of FIDE’s revenue to national federations worldwide. However, this radical approach has led many officials to view him as an outside chance for victory.
Timur Turlov, a 38-year-old Kazakh citizen and one of the nation’s wealthiest individuals, is currently considered the favorite to win. Born in Moscow, Turlov became a Kazakh citizen in 2022 and is seen as a close associate of the outgoing president. His company, Freedom Holding Corp., has long been FIDE’s primary sponsor. Critics argue that Turlov’s election would consolidate both political and financial control, a concern underscored by the fact that Freedom Holding Corp. and its CEO are currently subject to sanctions by Ukraine, which accuses the firm of financing Russia’s war effort. Additionally, reports indicate that the US Securities and Exchange Commission has taken an interest in Turlov’s financial activities.
Tensions surrounding Turlov have intensified following his acquisition of the Hamburg-based chess software company Chessbase in the spring of 2026. Shortly after, Hamburger Sparkasse reportedly closed Chessbase’s business account. While Chessbase declined to comment, the bank stated that relationships may be terminated if they conflict with existing sanctions against countries such as Russia, Belarus, or Iran. Volodymyr Kovalchuk, vice president of the Ukrainian Chess Federation, warned that if Turlov wins and poses a security threat to Ukraine, Kyiv will push for EU sanctions against him. Reports suggest Turlov is attempting to soften Ukrainian opposition by advocating for a Ukrainian official to join the FIDE board as vice president.
The third candidate, Wadim Rosenstein, a 36-year-old entrepreneur born in Ukraine who moved to Germany at age nine, faces intense scrutiny regarding his business ties. Operating out of Düsseldorf, Rosenstein leads the WR Group, which engages in various sectors including real estate and logistics. Although Rosenstein claims he ceased active operations in Russia in 2022, public records show that his Moscow-based subsidiary, WR RUS, saw profits rise from approximately €300,000 in 2022 to €1.7 million in 2025. Furthermore, German entities within his group collaborated with WR RUS through the end of 2023, and dividend payments were recorded for that year.
Rosenstein has invested millions into high-profile chess events, including tournaments featuring Magnus Carlsen and the WR Women’s Chess Tour, often held at upscale venues like the Rosenstein Palace in Stuttgart. He campaigns using private jets and has pledged professionalization and transparency for FIDE. However, his campaign has faced controversy after he promoted a sponsorship from a Düsseldorf company named Glotech. Evgeni Schukin, Glotech’s managing director, confirmed that no such agreement existed and that no funds were provided. Rosenstein has not responded to requests for comment regarding these financing issues.
Despite the controversies, Rosenstein has secured the support of the DSB and its president, Paul Meyer-Dunker, who cite his push for professionalism and transparency. He has also garnered political backing from Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann. The Bavarian ministry clarified that this support relates to the sporting aspects of the candidacy and does not constitute an assessment of Rosenstein’s private or business activities. As the congress approaches, the chess world watches to see who will lead the federation into its next chapter.
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