Viswanathan Anand To Lead FIDE As Interim President After EU Sanctions Hit Dvorkovich

Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand has been appointed as the Interim President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) after current president Arkady Dvorkovich temporarily stepped aside following his inclusion in the European Union sanctions list linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The five-time world chess champion, who has served as FIDE Deputy President since 2022, will now take charge of the global governing body under the provisions of the federation's charter. Anand becomes the face of FIDE at a crucial time as the organisation looks to ensure uninterrupted governance amid growing geopolitical challenges.

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FIDE Activates Charter to Appoint Anand

Announcing the decision on Friday, FIDE confirmed that Anand would immediately assume the role of interim president while Dvorkovich remains subject to the restrictive measures.

“In accordance with Article 19.2 of the FIDE Charter, Mr. Anand Viswanathan, Deputy President of FIDE, shall act as Interim President as long as Mr. Dvorkovich is subject to the restrictive measures provided by the Swiss and EU laws and regulations in force,” FIDE said in an official statement.

The move follows Dvorkovich's addition to the European Union's sanctions list. FIDE is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, making compliance with Swiss and EU regulations essential for the functioning of the organisation.

Dvorkovich Expresses Confidence in FIDE Leadership

Despite stepping away from the presidency, Dvorkovich expressed confidence that the federation would continue operating smoothly under its leadership team.

“I would like to emphasise that I believe in the FIDE Council and I am confident that the FIDE Council and administration will overcome all challenges and do the utmost to safeguard the continuous work of FIDE, its events and social programs,” Dvorkovich said.

His statement underlined that the decision was aimed at protecting the federation's day-to-day operations and ensuring its tournaments and developmental initiatives continue without disruption.

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A New Chapter for Anand

For Anand, the appointment marks another milestone in an illustrious chess career. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game, the Chennai-born grandmaster won the FIDE World Championship in 2000 before becoming the undisputed World Chess Champion from 2007 to 2013.