Three candidates entered the race to lead FIDE for the 2026-2030 term. The nominations closed today, and the field is set.
Jan Henric Buettner paired with Malcolm Pein. Wadim Rosenstein chose Gordon Tang as running mate. Timur Turlov teamed up with Viswanathan Anand.
The Electoral Commission now reviews all three tickets to verify they meet FIDE rules. Valid candidacies will be published on the FIDE website once the vetting finishes.
This is a competitive field. Turlov brings Russian chess money and influence. Rosenstein has European backing. Buettner represents a different European faction with Pein, the well-connected British organizer. The addition of Anand as Turlov's deputy adds global credibility and a respected former world champion to the equation.
The race matters. FIDE controls world championship matches, federation recognition, and the international calendar. These three tickets will shape chess governance for four years. Expect campaigning to intensify as candidates make their cases to national federations, who cast the actual votes at the congress.