Wadim Rosenstein spoke about Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura in an interview with Reuters. Rosenstein says he wants to bring Carlsen and Nakamura back into active Classical play, and notes that he has good relations with both of them.

Wadim Rosenstein

Wadim Rosenstein

WR Chess CEO

“Among all the presidential candidates, I think I have the best relations with Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.

I would love to bring them back into Classical competition and I hope I will succeed.”

Former FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov announced his candidacy for the FIDE President election 2026 in July. Ilyumzhinov said he wants to bring Magnus back to the Classical World Championship. Kirsan announced his retirement from chess at the end of July.

The FIDE President election 2026 will take place at the General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from September 26 to 27. WR Chess CEO Wadim Rosenstein, Kazakh entrepreneur Timur Turlov, and Freestyle Chess CEO Jan Henric Buettner were accepted by FIDE for participation in the election.