Member federations retain one vote each as access and eligibility issues receive formal review
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – 25th September 2026 – FIDE International Chess Federation has confirmed the current procedural status of its 2026 presidential election as preparations continue for the General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The federation is addressing candidate eligibility, voting rights and delegate access following electoral complaints and reported visa delays affecting some accredited participants.
The election is scheduled for September 26, 2026, during the FIDE General Assembly. Each member federation represented at the meeting is entitled to one vote, regardless of the federation’s membership size or competitive record. The electoral outcome will therefore be determined by the number of national federations supporting each presidential ticket.
Three tickets are contesting the election. German businessman Wadim Rosenstein is standing for president alongside deputy presidential candidate Gordon Tang. The other tickets pair Jan Henric Buettner with Malcolm Pein and Timur Turlov with Viswanathan Anand.
Rosenstein has campaigned on proposals involving commercial management, governance standards, corporate sponsorship, conflict-of-interest rules and the position of classical chess. His candidacy has also drawn examination following a two-year sponsorship agreement involving his business interests and the German national chess federation, which appointed him as its FIDE delegate in May 2026.
Turlov and Anand filed a complaint alleging that the sponsorship arrangement created improper financial influence because the German federation supports Rosenstein’s ticket and is entitled to vote in the election. Rosenstein and the federation rejected the allegations, maintaining that the sponsorship was a commercial arrangement independent of nomination, delegate status or voting behavior.
The FIDE Electoral Commission did not remove Rosenstein from the presidential contest or exclude the German federation from voting. It determined that the requested measures were not admissible under the eligibility and voting provisions cited in the complaint. The commission also concluded that matters involving potential ethics violations belonged within a separate disciplinary process and found insufficient grounds and time for an interim measure before the election.
Rosenstein consequently remains an approved presidential candidate, while the German federation retains its voting rights. The ruling addresses the requested electoral measures and does not constitute a broader determination concerning allegations that may fall under other disciplinary procedures.
FIDE is separately addressing entry difficulties affecting participants traveling to Uzbekistan. On September 16, the federation acknowledged that several participants, including voting delegates and FIDE Council member Benard Wanjala, had not received the visas required to enter the country.
The FIDE Council has stated that the Congress can proceed only if every eligible participant can exercise the rights attached to accreditation. The council has retained the option of changing the dates and location if equal participation cannot be secured. No publicly established evidence links Rosenstein, another candidate or any campaign to individual visa decisions.
“Equal voting rights for eligible member federations remain a necessary part of the General Assembly’s electoral process,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, president of FIDE. “Candidate eligibility, delegate accreditation and access issues are being handled through the procedures applicable to each matter.”
The delegate-access issue has added a procedural consideration to the election because the absence of accredited representatives could change the group of federations physically participating in Samarkand. Rosenstein has opposed relocating or disrupting the election process, while the FIDE Council has reserved relocation as a possible response if participation rights cannot be guaranteed.
FIDE’s confirmed position leaves the three presidential tickets eligible to compete under the current election arrangements. Member federations will consider the candidates’ programs, governance proposals, professional records and responses to the electoral issues raised during the campaign.
About FIDE International Chess Federation
FIDE International Chess Federation is the governing body for international chess competition. Founded in Paris in 1924 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the organization connects national chess federations and administers international championships, regulations, ratings and titles.
Media Details
Contact Person: Arkady Dvorkovich, president
Company Name: FIDE International Chess Federation
Email: office@fide.com
Website: https://www.fide.com/