Wadim Rosenstein made an appeal to the chairman of the FIDE Electoral Commission, Roberto Rivello. Rosenstein posted the appeal on his X on September 27, the day after the completion of the FIDE Presidential Election.

Rosenstein calls for a hearing to disqualify the tickets of Timur Turlov and Malcolm Pein. Wadim claims that Turlov and Pein violated the FIDE Electoral Rule prohibiting manipulation of the election process.

Wadim Rosenstein

Wadim Rosenstein

WR Chess CEO

“Dear Chairman Roberto Rivello. As a presidential candidate in the 2026 FIDE Presidential election, I want to lodge a formal, written objection against the behaviour of another presidential candidate Mr. Timur Turlov and deputy presidential candidate Mr. Malcolm Pein who is running on the presidential ticket of Mr. Jan Henric Buettner.

Shortly after you declared the results of the first ballot, you indicated that there had to be a second round of voting as no ticket had got the required majority of votes. Further, that only I and Mr. Turlov would be the candidates in the second round of voting as Mr. Buettner had finished last with a small number of votes.

Afterwards both Mr. Turlov and Mr. Pein were seen talking. Shortly before the second round of voting began, Mr. Turlov and Mr. Pein then went in front of the General Assembly and held each other’s hands high in the air in a show of support for each other. This was greeted with applause from a number of persons present, including delegates.

It is clear that both Mr. Turlov and Mr. Pein sought to ‘collude’ and/or ‘manipulate’ the election process in clear breach or violation of the provisions of Rule 9.8 of the FIDE Electoral Rules which state:

“Candidates should not engage in any act, collaboration or collusion by or between candidates with the intent to defraud or manipulate the result of the vote.”

It is clear that by going in front of the General Assembly and holding hands in support both Turlov and Pein breached the provisions of Rule 9.8. as they sought to ‘manipulate’ the vote by getting Buettner’s/Pein’s people to vote for Turlov.

I am calling on you as the Chairman of the FIDE Electoral Commission (ELC) to take the necessary steps to schedule a hearing of the ELC as a matter of urgency with a view to disqualifying both the tickets of Turlov/Anand and Buettner/Pein for breaching the FIDE Electoral Rules and bringing the electoral process in disrepute.”

The FIDE Presidential Election 2026 took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 26. Timur Turlov won the election by defeating Wadim Rosenstein 110 votes to 85 in the second round. 70% of Jan Henric Buettner’s votes went to Turlov after the first round.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE