Timur Turlov proposes $6 million development fund in FIDE presidential debate
On Sept. 9, the Chess.com platform hosted a debate between candidates for president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess) President Timur Turlov, one of the leading candidates, presented his strategy to transform the organization, emphasizing large-scale financial investment, corporate transparency and technological development.
Investing in development
A key part of the Kazakhstani candidate’s election platform was the creation of a development fund to support national federations, reduce financial inequality and build infrastructure in developing countries.
«I expect this fund to exceed $6 million, covering the costs of hosting open tournaments and training arbiters and coaches in each federation. We will help chess players travel abroad and participate in tournaments in their own countries. Taken together, all these measures can provide a tremendous boost to many developing federations around the world,» Turlov said during the debate.
To illustrate his point, he cited the results of Kazakhstani athletes, who won more than 140 medals last year thanks to targeted funding.
Transparency and Nasdaq standards
Turlov paid particular attention to the federation’s financial independence and transparency. As the head of a company with more than 10,000 employees and 12 million clients, he intends to apply the same transparency standards at FIDE as those used for public companies.
«My greatest guarantee is my personal reputation because it is my greatest asset, and I certainly do not intend to jeopardize it over any conflict of interest. I manage a public company listed on Nasdaq and report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. I know how to work with independent directors and auditors and how to maintain transparency in our reporting,» the candidate emphasized.
Digitalization and the future of chess
The KazChess president also proposed investing in advanced technologies to combat cheating in chess and considering biometric identification for official online tournaments. He also supported holding «rapid classical» competitions to retain viewer interest while maintaining the traditional classical format.
«My goal now is to make the game I love greater and more visible and to bring real benefits to society. I want FIDE to be much stronger, more independent and wealthier by the time I end my career with the organization,» he emphasized.
The Kazakhstani representative’s key competitors were German entrepreneurs Jan Henric Buettner and Wadim Rosenstein, founder of WR Group. After a brief opening statement about the need for FIDE leadership to be fully accountable to its more than 200 national federations, Rosenstein left the broadcast early.
Buettner, a co-founder of Freestyle Chess, has built his campaign around strict commercialization. He promised to attract Fortune 500 sponsors and implement a model that would distribute 20% of all FIDE revenues among national federations.
