Viswanathan Anand he reversed his previous decision and will now contest the FIDE elections as Vice-President alongside Timur Turlov, who is a candidate for the organization’s top post. Anand had earlier said he wanted to step away from the role to spend more time with his family, but changes in the election race prompted him to continue. Earlier, Anand had explained why he was considering stepping down, saying: “I just wanted to have more time at home. My son will probably go to university in three years, I think those are the years he should be here. It was a great motivation to have a different role. But I am still very much part of the team.”The change came after current FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich was forced out of the election race due to European Union sanctions, making it difficult for him to continue in the role.
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As a result, Timur Turlov switched from running for Vice President to contending for the presidency, with Anand joining him as his running mate. Anand is currently the interim president of FIDE until elections are held during the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.
Anand supports Turlov’s Vision
Explaining his decision on X, Anand wrote: “In the last four years, it has been an honor to work at FIDE and contribute to the development of chess. I have worked with colleagues from the basic programs to the elite competitions. Together, we have made significant progress in expanding the opportunities for players, federations and organizers, while making chess more accessible.” “I am proud of what we have achieved as a team, but I also believe there is much more we can achieve. That is why I have accepted Timur Turlov’s invitation to continue serving as FIDE Vice President as part of his team.”He also praised Turlov’s leadership, saying he believes the businessman has the vision and experience to make FIDE more digital, financially strong and inclusive while continuing to grow the game around the world.
