# FIDE President Steps Aside: Vishy Anand Takes the Helm After EU Sanctions Hit Arkady Dvorkovich > FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has suspended his own powers after being placed on an EU sanctions list, handing control of world chess's governing body to five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand. Meanwhile, in Chennai, Alireza Firouzja just won a str _By Akash Mitra · Jul 24, 2026_ Imagine running the biggest chess organization in the world for eight years — and then, in a single day, having to hand over the keys. That's exactly what happened this week. ### A Sudden Change at the Top of World Chess On July 23, 2026, the President of FIDE (the International Chess Federation), Arkady Dvorkovich, announced he was stepping back from his role. The reason wasn't a scandal inside chess — it was politics from the outside world. The President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Arkady Dvorkovich, has stepped down from his position as head of the chess governing body after being sanctioned by the European Union. Taking his place, at least for now, is a name every chess fan knows and loves: Five-time world champion GM Viswanathan Anand is taking over as interim president. Here's what happened. Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports announced that Dvorkovich had been added to a new EU sanctions package targeting Russia, alongside Russia's Sports Minister. The minister didn't hold back, writing that "Arkady Dvorkovich promotes the interests of the Kremlin while holding the position of president of the International Chess Federation." The EU's official reasoning goes further. According to the EU's sanctions listing, Dvorkovich was accused of using his position as FIDE president to support Russian policies undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, and it noted his previous senior roles in the Russian government and that the Kremlin had welcomed his 2022 reelection as FIDE president as a "victory" for Moscow. The listing also says the EU believes Dvorkovich had publicly supported the annexation of Crimea and referred to occupied Ukrainian cities as Russia's "new territories." ### Why Now? Interestingly, this isn't the first time Dvorkovich could have faced sanctions. He had dodged them before because Hungary — under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban — blocked the EU from adding his name to the list. But things changed. Orban lost power earlier this year, and the new, more pro-Western government led by Peter Magyar chose not to stand in the way this time. Dvorkovich didn't go quietly, though. He called the decision unfair and vowed to fight it. In his own words, shared in a FIDE statement: he described the sanctions as "unlawful and unfair" and said he would challenge them through all available legal means. Still, he chose to step back from his duties rather than risk disrupting FIDE's daily operations while the legal fight plays out. As he explained, he decided to "voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties as FIDE President with immediate effect" for as long as the sanctions remain in force. ### Enter Vishy Anand Under FIDE's rules, when the president can't act, the deputy president steps in. That's exactly what's happening now, with the responsibility falling on one of the most respected figures in chess history. In accordance with the FIDE Charter, the duties of the President will be assumed by the FIDE Deputy President, the 15th World Champion, Viswanathan Anand. For fans of the game, this is a heartwarming twist in an otherwise tense story. Anand, one of the most beloved and respected champions ever to play the game, now finds himself steering the entire federation — at least until the legal dust settles. ### A Reminder of How Long Dvorkovich Has Led FIDE To understand how big this moment is, it helps to know Dvorkovich's history at the top. The 54-year-old, who served as Deputy Prime Minister in Russia from 2012 to 2018, has led FIDE since 2018, when he defeated Georgios Makropoulos 103-78 in the presidential election. He was reelected in 2022, defeating the Baryshpolets-Nielsen ticket with 157 votes against 16. He had once promised to serve only two terms, but delegates voted in 2023 to abolish the restriction, clearing the way for him to seek a third term in 2026. Now, that third term is on hold before it even properly began — a reminder that in chess, just like on the board, things can change very quickly. ### Meanwhile, On the Board: Firouzja Triumphs in Chennai While the politics played out, actual chess was still being fought hard in India. The 2026 Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters wrapped up its final round with a clear winner. GM Alireza Firouzja has taken clear first place in the 2026 Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters after making a draw with GM Arjun Erigaisi in the final round. The battle for second place had its own drama. GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov could have forced a playoff with a win, but instead he overpressed and lost to GM Dmitry Andreikin, who edged second place on tiebreaks. But the most nail-biting subplot belonged to the reigning World Champion, playing in his home country. Gukesh Dommaraju had been in a rough patch, and fans were watching closely to see if he would fall out of a very exclusive group of players — those rated above 2700. Going into the last round, Gukesh had lost three games and won none in his home supertournament, and was one loss away from falling out of the 2700 club. He survived by making a quick, safe draw, finishing the tournament at 2703.1 — just barely holding on to his spot among chess's elite. It's a small reminder that even world champions have rough weeks. Chess, like life, doesn't always go in a straight line upward. ### The Bigger Picture Chess is often thought of as a quiet, calm game of the mind. But this week showed just how connected it is to the wider world — geopolitics, sanctions, and sudden leadership changes can shake even the 64 squares. For now, all eyes will be on how Vishy Anand steadies the federation, and whether Dvorkovich's legal challenge changes anything down the line. One thing is certain: in chess, just like at the board, you never quite know what the next move will bring.