FIDE held the 2026 Presidential Candidates Q&A Session at the Chess Olympiad on September 24. Two of the three participants of the FIDE Presidential election joined the session. Event host Charlize van Zyl explained that FIDE did not receive a respond from Wadim Rosenstein.

Charlize van Zyl

Charlize van Zyl

Presenter and events host

“We did invite all three candidates but unfortunately one of them could not make it. We’re not entirely sure why, but we have our two candidates here today…

All three candidates were invited with enough time to respond and make time but unfortunately, we just didn’t get a confirmation from Mr. Wadim.”

Timur Turlov commented on Rosenstein’s absence in one of his answers.

Timur Turlov

Timur Turlov

President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation

“Wadim Rosenstein is restricted!”

Wadim has not commented on the situation at the time of publication. Rosenstein disconnected from the 2026 Presidential Debate after his opening speech on September 9. Debate host Maurice Ashley later reported that Chess.com could not restore the connection with Rosenstein.

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

Credit: FIDE