The world of chess faces a moment of profound uncertainty after Arkady Dvorkovich, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), announced he was suspending his duties following his inclusion on the European Union's latest sanctions list targeting Russia. The 54-year-old former Russian deputy prime minister and Kremlin adviser now faces an EU travel ban and asset freeze, measures the bloc said were imposed because he "publicly supported the annexation of Crimea" and referred to occupied Ukrainian cities as "new territories" of Russia. His membership on the board of the Chess Federation of Russia, which has organised tournaments in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, was also cited.

Dvorkovich, who has led FIDE since 2018 and was re-elected to the position in 2022, said in a statement that he was "voluntarily suspending the exercise of my powers and duties" while stopping short of a full resignation. He described the sanctions as "unlawful and unfair" and pledged to challenge them through every available legal channel, saying they were designed "to prevent me from running and serving for FIDE." He rejected accusations of Russian influence over the federation, pointing out that FIDE is headquartered in Switzerland and employs senior executives from India, Norway, Latvia, the United States, France, and elsewhere.

With Dvorkovich sidelined, FIDE vice-president Viswanathan Anand of India will take over his duties. The 56-year-old, a five-time world chess champion, becomes the first former world champion to lead the federation since Dutch grandmaster Max Euwe held the presidency from 1970 to 1978. Anand's tenure may be brief, however, as new FIDE presidential elections are scheduled for September.

Ukraine and its supporters have welcomed the development as a significant turning point. Officials from the Ukrainian Chess Federation called it "an important victory," saying people who develop sport in the interests of an aggressor state have no place in senior international positions. England's FIDE representative Malcolm Pein described the move as "an earthquake and a massive diplomatic victory for Ukraine," adding that it could reduce Russia's longstanding influence over global chess — a game the Soviet Union and later Russia have wielded as a tool of soft power since the Second World War.

The departure marks the second time in recent history that a Russian FIDE president has been forced out for political reasons. Dvorkovich's predecessor, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, stepped down after being placed on a US sanctions list over his role as a co-owner of a Russian bank, an episode that also resulted in FIDE's bank accounts being temporarily frozen. Chess is currently experiencing a global boom, with surging viewership, major sponsorship deals, and the celebrity of players such as Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen — meaning the federation's leadership transition arrives at a moment of both challenge and opportunity for the sport.