Timur Turlov Announces Candidacy for FIDE Deputy President
Timur Turlov, President of the International School Chess Fedration and Kazakhstan Chess Federation, has announced his candidacy for the position of Deputy President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The next FIDE leadership elections will take place on September 26–27, 2026, in Samarkand, during the organization's General Assembly — held alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad, which will bring together thousands of grandmasters and chess enthusiasts from around the world.
Under FIDE rules, the President and Deputy President run on a joint ticket. Turlov has joined the campaign team of incumbent FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who will also stand for re-election.
Turlov described the decision as a natural extension of his work developing and digitalizing chess in Kazakhstan.
"The results we have achieved over these three and a half years have convinced me of one simple thing: the approach we use in Kazakhstan works and it can be scaled much further, to the level of world chess," he wrote.
Turlov has led the Kazakhstan Chess Federation since 2023. With the support of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his federation colleagues, he initiated a comprehensive transformation of the country's chess landscape — from integrating chess into schools and rebuilding regional networks to digitizing sports data and bringing FIDE's flagship tournaments to Kazakhstan.
Among the key initiatives launched under his leadership: a Young Talent Support Programme providing the most promising players with access to top coaches, modern facilities, and leading international competitions; and the national Chess in Education programme, through which primary school students across Kazakhstan receive regular chess instruction within their schools. The programme now covers more than 1,500 schools and over 60,000 students across all regions of the country.
Kazakhstan today has one of the strongest youth squads and one of the best women's teams in the world. Medal results have grown consistently: in 2025 alone, Kazakh chess players won 162 medals at international tournaments, 64 of them gold.
In 2026, Kazakhstan launched a new accreditation system for chess schools and clubs, and is preparing the full rollout of KazChess ID — a unified digital platform set to become the central hub of the country's chess ecosystem.
"The team we are running with is truly international, and I represent within it what our President has often called a 'middle power.' My goal is to bring FIDE greater stability, balance, and mutual understanding. As one of the leading technology entrepreneurs, I can also help make the federation more digital. In that sense, I represent more than just myself. Kazakhstan today is exactly that kind of country: digital, technology-driven, and resilient — a country that knows how to engage in calm, balanced dialogue with everyone, and is increasingly seen around the world as a reliable partner. I believe it is right that we bring these qualities — our technological capacity and our stability — into international institutions as well," Turlov said.
The KazChess President expressed confidence that success in the election would be yet another source of pride for Kazakhstan — and a shared victory for the country.
The next FIDE leadership elections will take place on September 26–27, 2026, in Samarkand, during the organization's General Assembly — held alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad, which will bring together thousands of grandmasters and chess enthusiasts from around the world.
Under FIDE rules, the President and Deputy President run on a joint ticket. Turlov has joined the campaign team of incumbent FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who will also stand for re-election.
Turlov described the decision as a natural extension of his work developing and digitalizing chess in Kazakhstan.
"The results we have achieved over these three and a half years have convinced me of one simple thing: the approach we use in Kazakhstan works and it can be scaled much further, to the level of world chess," he wrote.
Turlov has led the Kazakhstan Chess Federation since 2023. With the support of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his federation colleagues, he initiated a comprehensive transformation of the country's chess landscape — from integrating chess into schools and rebuilding regional networks to digitizing sports data and bringing FIDE's flagship tournaments to Kazakhstan.
Among the key initiatives launched under his leadership: a Young Talent Support Programme providing the most promising players with access to top coaches, modern facilities, and leading international competitions; and the national Chess in Education programme, through which primary school students across Kazakhstan receive regular chess instruction within their schools. The programme now covers more than 1,500 schools and over 60,000 students across all regions of the country.
Kazakhstan today has one of the strongest youth squads and one of the best women's teams in the world. Medal results have grown consistently: in 2025 alone, Kazakh chess players won 162 medals at international tournaments, 64 of them gold.
In 2026, Kazakhstan launched a new accreditation system for chess schools and clubs, and is preparing the full rollout of KazChess ID — a unified digital platform set to become the central hub of the country's chess ecosystem.
"The team we are running with is truly international, and I represent within it what our President has often called a 'middle power.' My goal is to bring FIDE greater stability, balance, and mutual understanding. As one of the leading technology entrepreneurs, I can also help make the federation more digital. In that sense, I represent more than just myself. Kazakhstan today is exactly that kind of country: digital, technology-driven, and resilient — a country that knows how to engage in calm, balanced dialogue with everyone, and is increasingly seen around the world as a reliable partner. I believe it is right that we bring these qualities — our technological capacity and our stability — into international institutions as well," Turlov said.
The KazChess President expressed confidence that success in the election would be yet another source of pride for Kazakhstan — and a shared victory for the country.
