For the first time, a Kazakh citizen has been elected to lead the International Chess Federation (FIDE): Freedom Holding Corp. founder and CEO Timur Turlov has become the organization’s new president. He plans to nearly quadruple funding for chess development, create a unified digital platform and expand support for national federations, according to Kazakhstan-based business publication Kursiv.
Timur Turlov, president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., was elected president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). In the second round of voting, he received 110 votes, compared with 85 for Vadim Rosenstein. The election took place on September 26 at the FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand. Representatives of 196 national federations participated, with each federation holding one vote.
Turlov becomes the eighth president in FIDE’s more than 100-year history, the first Kazakh citizen to hold the position and the second-youngest elected leader of the organization.
Viswanathan Anand, a member of Turlov’s ticket, was elected FIDE Deputy President. Anand is a five-time world champion who had served as acting head of the organization since July 2026.
“I would like to thank my campaign team and the delegates of the national federations for supporting my candidacy and believing in my program for the development of FIDE and our sport. This is a major responsibility for me and a great opportunity to make FIDE a modern, open and financially sustainable organization that creates more opportunities for the development of chess and chess players in every country,” Turlov said after the vote.
How Turlov Plans to Run FIDE
On election day, Turlov stressed that the FIDE president should personally address difficult questions and be prepared for open discussion. At the same time, he said individual federations should not be judged solely by revenue or the number of contracts they secure.
“My professional background is in business, but I understand that FIDE operates by different rules. Its success cannot be measured solely by revenue or the number of contracts. FIDE exists for national federations and the people who play chess,” he said.
The new president pointed to the significant differences among more than 200 countries: some chess federations receive government support, while others operate through the efforts of only a handful of enthusiasts. FIDE’s role, he said, is not to impose a single model on them but to help each federation find its own path to development.
Commercial partnerships should provide FIDE with financial stability without turning the organization into a business, Turlov believes. The funds raised are expected to be directed toward tournaments, education, player support and the development of national federations.
Development Funding to Nearly Quadruple
The new president’s program is built around financial sustainability, stronger FIDE institutions, digital transformation and the development of chess in education.
From 2027 through 2030, €6.2 million ($7.07 million) is expected to be allocated annually to the Development Fund, 3.9 times the current €1.6 million ($1.82 million). Over the four-year period, total funding could reach €24.8 million ($28.3 million).
Of the annual budget, €2 million ($2.28 million) is earmarked for competitions, €1.1 million ($1.25 million) for supporting young players, and €900,000 ($1.03 million) for chess education. A further €800,000 ($911,000) is expected to go toward training coaches and arbiters and developing digital tools, while €500,000 ($570,000) is earmarked for women’s chess.
The program also calls for three years of individual support for 10 young chess players — five male and five female.
A separate media fund of $1.5 million per year is planned for 2027–2030. The funding will support national information campaigns, communications development, specialist training and shared tools for federations.
All national federations will be eligible to apply for support, regardless of their size or financial resources. Turlov also plans to introduce independent audits, regular financial reporting and disclosure of major commercial agreements as part of FIDE’s governance framework.
A Unified Digital Profile for Chess Players
One of the central projects will be the creation of a FIDE digital ecosystem. A personal FIDE ID could bring together a player’s rating, tournament history, achievements, tournament registration and educational resources in a single profile.
National federations are expected to receive tools for managing competitions and ratings while reducing paperwork. Artificial intelligence is expected to be used for game analysis, player and coach education, tournament organization and the detection of cheating.
Turlov has also proposed publishing the calendar of major tournaments two years in advance, increasing prize funds and improving conditions for players. Funding for women’s chess is planned to increase fivefold, from €100,000 to €500,000 a year, while women’s representation within FIDE structures is targeted to reach at least 35%.
Bringing Kazakhstan’s Experience to the Global Federation
Turlov has headed the Kazakhstan Chess Federation since January 2023 and is also the founder of the International School Chess Federation. Over the past three years, Freedom Holding Corp. has committed around $30 million to chess development in Kazakhstan and supported more than 20 major international FIDE tournaments.
Chess programs in Kazakhstan have reached around 2,500 schools, while 300–400 tournaments are held across the country each month. Universities have begun training chess teachers, while initiatives including the KazChessLab methodology centers and a digital accreditation system for chess clubs and schools have been introduced.
