Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 27: Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand has confirmed that he will contest for the post of Deputy President in the upcoming FIDE elections as part of Timur Turlov's team, following the withdrawal of incumbent president Arkady Dvorkovich from the race.
Turlov, who was initially set to contest for the Deputy President's post with Dvorkovich seeking a third term as FIDE President, has now stepped up to contest for the top position after European Union sanctions made Dvorkovich's continuation as FIDE chief untenable.
Anand, who is currently serving as Interim President of FIDE, will continue in that role until the elections are held during the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand over the next two months.
The Indian chess legend had recently indicated that he was reluctant to contest the elections again as he wanted to spend more time with his family.
"I simply wanted to have more time at home. My son will probably go to university in three years. I thought these are the years I should be here. That was a big motivation to get a different role. But I am still very much part of the team," Anand had said.
Announcing his decision on X, Anand said he was honoured to have contributed to the growth of chess over the past four years and believed there was still significant work to be done.
"Over the past four years, it has been an honour to work at FIDE and contribute to the development of chess. I have worked with colleagues from grassroots programmes to elite competitions. Together, we have made significant progress in expanding opportunities for players, federations and organisers, while making chess more accessible," he wrote.
"I am proud of what we have achieved as a team, but I also believe there is much more we can accomplish. That is why I have accepted Timur Turlov's invitation to continue serving as FIDE Deputy President as part of his team," he added.
Backing Turlov's candidature, Anand said he possessed the vision, leadership and experience needed to guide FIDE into its next phase.
"I believe Timur has the vision, energy and expertise to maintain the momentum we have built in recent years while opening new opportunities for chess. His experience in leading a publicly listed international company, his commitment to technology and innovation, and his long-standing support for chess make him well positioned to guide FIDE into its next chapter," Anand said.
He added that under Turlov's leadership, FIDE could become more digitally driven, financially resilient and inclusive while ensuring greater representation for all regions of the world in shaping the future of chess.