The race for the presidency of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) is entering its final stretch, with Wadim Rosenstein emerging as one of the key figures ahead of the vote scheduled for September 26 at the General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The German businessman has secured backing from national federations and chess officials across Europe and Africa, in a campaign seeking to promote a new approach to the organization’s management and its relationship with its member associations.
Accompanied by Gordon Tang, Executive Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Rosenstein has built his platform around a central premise: that FIDE should respond more directly to the needs of its member federations, regardless of their size or financial capacity. His candidacy combines experience in competitive chess, international event management, and connections within organized sport, with a program aimed at strengthening institutional support and expanding development opportunities for the different chess communities.
Rosenstein gains support from officials and federations across continents
In recent weeks, Rosenstein’s campaign has secured endorsements from representatives of the European and African chess communities. Among those who have publicly expressed their support are Zurab Azmaiparashvili, President of the European Chess Union; Eloi Relange, President of the French Chess Federation; and Lewis Ncube, former FIDE Vice President. The federations of Montenegro and Mozambique have also joined the list of supporters, while former FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov announced his backing in Samarkand this week.
These endorsements place Rosenstein at the center of a coalition seeking to promote changes in the administration of international chess. The geographical diversity of the support reflects the presence of officials and federations with different circumstances and priorities, in an electoral process that raises questions about the role FIDE should play in supporting its members. The campaign maintains that these endorsements reflect a need to strengthen the relationship between the governing body and national federations.
A program focused on federations and chess development
Rosenstein’s platform is based on an approach that seeks to place national federations at the center of FIDE’s management. The candidate believes the organization should deliver tangible results for its members and ensure that both large and small federations have access to resources and opportunities to develop chess. “Every federation, large or small, should be able to point to what FIDE does for them. Today, too many can’t,” Rosenstein said ahead of the vote. His proposal aims to establish a structure that responds more directly to the needs of those driving the growth of the sport in their respective countries.
The campaign also draws on Rosenstein’s background, which began with youth chess competitions in Germany before he went on to build an international business career. Through WR Chess, he has organized and funded elite tournaments that have attracted new sponsors and audiences to the sport. Meanwhile, Gordon Tang brings experience in international sports governance and connections with the Asian Olympic movement. The combination of their profiles seeks to connect institutional management with event organization and the creation of opportunities for federations, as delegates prepare to determine the future leadership of FIDE.
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