Chess legend Anand joins Turlov’s FIDE presidential ticket as deputy candidate

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand has confirmed he will stand for the position of Deputy President in the upcoming FIDE elections, alongside Timur Turlov who is running for President. Anand currently serves as FIDE’s Interim President after Arkady Dvorkovich stepped aside due to European Union sanctions.

In a statement posted on social media, Anand said he had initially planned to leave the role to spend more time with his family before his son leaves for university. However, with Dvorkovich out of the race, Turlov—originally a candidate for Deputy President—moved to contest for the top post, and invited Anand to be his running mate.

“I simply wanted to have more time at home. My son will probably go to university in three years, I thought these are the years I should be here. That was a big motivation to get a different role. But I am still very much part of the team,” Anand explained.

Anand will serve as Interim President for the next two months until elections are held during the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. He expressed confidence in Turlov’s leadership, citing his experience in running a publicly listed company and his commitment to technology and innovation.

“I believe Timur has the vision, energy and expertise to maintain the momentum we have built in recent years while opening new opportunities for chess,” Anand wrote. He said he looks forward to continuing work on grassroots programmes, elite competitions, and making chess more accessible globally.

The election marks a significant shift in FIDE’s governance amid geopolitical tensions. Dvorkovich, a former Russian deputy prime minister, was unable to continue as president after EU sanctions targeted Russian officials following the invasion of Ukraine. Turlov, a Kazakhstani businessman and chess patron, now leads the ticket.