Three-way battle for power in world chess: Who will be elected FIDE president in Samarkand?
The era of Russian presidents is coming to an end at the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Two Germans and one Kazakh are up for election. Among the issues at play are money, Kremlin influence, and unanswered questions.
A fierce three-way battle is unfolding for the presidency of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) at the organization's congress in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The incumbent president, Arkady Dvorkovich, will not run for re-election, leaving the choice of his successor uncertain. Three candidates are vying for the position: Kazakh billionaire Timur Turlov, German investor Jan Henric Buettner, and entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein.
Buettner, a Hamburg native, has no known ties to Russia and is considered the most likely candidate to challenge the status quo. He plans to reduce FIDE's dependence on Russian financial backers and allocate a portion of the organization's revenue to chess federations worldwide. Buettner's vision, similar to that of Formula 1 motor racing, aims to make chess commercially successful. However, his radical approach has raised doubts about his chances of winning.
Turlov, born in Moscow and now a citizen of Kazakhstan, is widely regarded as a close associate of the outgoing FIDE president. His financial firm, Freedom Holding Corp., has been a major sponsor of FIDE for years, and the company is currently listed on Ukraine's sanctions list. Additionally, Turlov recently acquired Chessbase, a chess software company, which reportedly faced issues with its bank due to sanctions.
The prospect of Turlov holding dual roles as FIDE president and a significant financial backer has raised concerns within the chess community.
Rosenstein, a German entrepreneur, is also a candidate, but his situation is further complicated by his Ukrainian roots. Born in Ukraine and moving to Germany at age nine, Rosenstein has been involved in various business ventures across 70 countries, including Ukraine and Russia. While he claims to have no active presence in Russia, his former company, WR RUS, has seen a significant increase in profits over the past few years.
Rosenstein's connections to Russia and his involvement in Ukrainian chess affairs have made him a target for potential sanctions.
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