Viswanathan Anand assumed the role of interim president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on 24 July 2026 after Arkady Dvorkovich suspended his duties following inclusion in EU and Swiss sanctions.
Appointment
- Date: 24 July 2026.
- Pre-existing role: Anand was FIDE Deputy President, elected August 2022.
FIDE: identity and functions
- Full name: Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE).
- Founded: 1924.
- Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Core functions: Organisation of world championships, conferment of international titles, maintenance of the FIDE rating list (Elo-based).
Viswanathan Anand: credentials
- World titles: Five-time World Chess Champion.
- Grandmaster: India’s first Grandmaster, 1988.
Arkady Dvorkovich and sanctions
- Tenure as FIDE President: Since 2018.
- Sanctions: Included in the EU 21st package and subject to Swiss restrictive measures; he suspended official duties.
Elections and procedure
- Electoral body: FIDE presidential election decided by votes of national chess federations.
- Next poll: Presidential election scheduled for September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Grandmaster requirements: Three GM norms plus a FIDE rating of 2500 at any time.
- Titles hierarchy: GM, International Master (IM), FIDE Master (FM), Candidate Master (CM); separate women’s titles exist.
- Samarkand: Historic Uzbek city; host venue for the September 2026 FIDE Congress and elections.