Timur Turlov won election as FIDE President at the General Assembly held in Samarkand during the 2026 Chess Olympiad. Viswanathan Anand secured the Deputy President role. The Assembly, which brought together federation representatives and council members from across the globe, handled the usual congress business: leadership elections, financial reports, membership questions, and rule changes.
The timing matters. Chess has been searching for stable leadership, and Turlov's election signals continuity at the federation level during a period when the game itself remains fractured at the top. Anand's role as deputy adds a heavyweight name to FIDE's executive structure. The former world champion brings credibility and deep institutional knowledge after years working within the federation's systems.
The Assembly also tackled the 2030 Chess Olympiad planning and various handbook amendments, though specifics on those changes remain limited in the official record. These administrative decisions rarely grab headlines, but they shape how the game runs at every level below the elite.
Turlov's presidency will face the usual pressures: player relations, federation politics, broadcasting rights negotiations, and the perpetual task of growing chess as a professional sport. Having Anand in the deputy seat gives FIDE an experienced voice in those conversations.