Chess legend Anand makes U-turn, rejoins FIDE election race

Viswanathan Anand has reversed his earlier decision and will now contest the FIDE elections as Deputy President alongside Timur Turlov, who is running for the organisation's top post. Anand had previously said he wanted to step away from the role to spend more time with his family, but changes in the election race have prompted him to continue. Earlier, Anand had explained why he was considering stepping back, saying, “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.”The change came after current FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich was forced out of the election race because of European Union sanctions, making it difficult for him to continue in the role. As a result, Timur Turlov switched from running for Deputy President to contesting for the presidency, with Anand joining him as his running mate. Anand is currently serving as FIDE's Interim President until elections are held during the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.Anand backing Turlov's VisionExplaining his decision on X, Anand wrote, “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. "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 also praised Turlov's leadership, saying he believes the businessman has the vision and experience to make FIDE more digital, financially strong and inclusive while continuing to grow the game globally.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.