EU Sanctions Force FIDE President to Step Aside in Chess Tussle

Sun Sep 06 2026 13:38:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

EU sanctions on FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich spark a leadership crisis amid Ukraine’s victory and Russian influence in international chess.

The International Chess Federation’s president, Arkady Dvorkovich, has agreed to suspend his duties following his addition to the EU sanctions list. The move, aimed at preventing him from running FIDE, is hailed as a decisive victory for Ukraine. Critics argue that Russian influence had grown under Dvorkovich’s tenure, while he denies the allegations. The outcome may reshape chess governance and reduce Russia’s soft‑power foothold.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has agreed to step aside after being added to the European Union’s sanctions list. The 54‑year‑old former Russian deputy prime minister and Kremlin adviser faces an EU travel ban and asset freeze for publicly supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea and calling occupied Ukrainian cities "new territories" of the Russian Federation.

In a statement, Dvorkovich said he was voluntarily suspending the exercise of his powers and duties, though he has clarified that he has not resigned from the presidency. He decried the sanctions as unlawful and unfair, arguing that they were aimed at preventing him from running and serving for FIDE.

Ukraine celebrated the decision as “an important victory.” Former vice‑president of the Ukrainian Chess Federation, Volodymyr Kovalchuk, warned that a man who supports an aggressor state should never hold a senior international position.

England’s FIDE representative, Malcolm Pein, called the move “an earthquake and a massive diplomatic victory for Ukraine,” noting it could significantly curb Russia’s influence in a sport that has long been a tool of soft power.

Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian national teams have been banned from international competitions. Ukrainian and allied officials claim that under Dvorkovich’s leadership, Russian influence within FIDE intensified, with attempts to re‑admit Russian players and officials in 2024 thwarted by a Supreme Assembly vote to maintain sanctions.

Further accusations suggest Moscow used FIDE as a platform to promote a narrative of intellectual superiority. Dvorkovich maintains that FIDE’s governance is multinational, citing executives from India, Norway, Latvia, the U.S., Italy, France and other countries.

The future of FIDE leadership remains uncertain, as Dvorkovich was slated to run for re‑election in September. The geopolitical clash within chess threatens to reshape the sport’s governance, ushering in a new era of leadership and reducing Russia’s after‑effects in the global chess community.