Wadim Rosenstein Will Seek FIDE Presidency
The WR Chess founder has officially entered the race for the top leadership position within international chess.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in People
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Wadim Rosenstein has announced his candidacy for the FIDE presidency ahead of the September 26, 2026, election in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He enters a field of contenders that includes Jan Henric Buettner and Timur Turlov.
Why it matters
The leadership contest follows Arkady Dvorkovich stepping aside after his inclusion on a sanctions list, creating a vacuum at the top of the global chess governing body. Rosenstein is positioning his campaign around reforming conflict-of-interest rules for FIDE staff.
The FIDE election will determine leadership following the departure of Arkady Dvorkovich. The field includes Rosenstein, who heads WR Group Holding, and other contenders like Jan Henric Buettner and Timur Turlov.
The players
Wadim Rosenstein
He is the founder of WR Chess and the chairman of WR Group Holding.
Arkady Dvorkovich
He stepped aside as FIDE president following his inclusion on a European Union sanctions list.
Magnus Carlsen
He is a decorated chess player who holds five world titles and previously declined to defend his crown.
Hikaru Nakamura
He is currently ranked second in classical chess globally.
FIDE
This is the international governing body that oversees the rules and championships for global chess competition.
The details
Rosenstein has stated his intent to bring elite players such as Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura back into the classical world championship cycle. His platform also includes a mandate that all FIDE employees work exclusively for the organization to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
Timeline
2022: Magnus Carlsen announced he would not defend his world title.
June 2026: FIDE suspended the Russian Chess Federation.
September 18, 2026: Wadim Rosenstein gave an interview to Reuters.
September 26, 2026: The FIDE election occurs in Samarkand.
Market Landscape
The leadership change reflects a broader movement to modernize FIDE governance after the suspension of the Russian Chess Federation. This election represents a pivot for the organization as it competes with other professional sports bodies to manage conflict-of-interest policies.
The results of this election could dictate the future accessibility of elite chess tournaments for fans and commercial partners alike. Changes to the classical world championship cycle may alter the frequency and format of high-stakes matches involving top-ranked players.
The takeaway
The upcoming election highlights an intense internal push to reconcile FIDE administrative policies with modern governance standards. Voters will weigh these structural reforms against the candidates' plans to draw star athletes back into the official world championship cycle.
What happens next
The FIDE General Assembly will conduct the presidential election on September 26, 2026, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Further reading
For more on the figures shaping the future of global chess, read our People section.
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