“Gens una sumus” (“We are one family”) is the motto of the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Yet when officials from some 200 countries gather for their congress in Samarkand on Saturday, September 26, it is not likely to feel like a joyous family reunion.

A new FIDE president is to be elected in Uzbekistan, and a three-way, politically charged race for the post has erupted, with the outcome uncertain. It has been clear since July that the incumbent FIDE president, Arkady Dvorkovich, would not be standing for re-election. The European Union had placed the former Russian deputy prime minister on its sanctions list due to his support for Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

Three entrepreneurs vying for the top job

The candidates standing for election are Kazakh billionaire Timur Turlov and two Germans: investor Jan Henric Buettner and entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein, who is running as the official candidate of the German Chess Federation (DSB).

For the first time in over 30 years, FIDE will not be led by a Russian. Nevertheless, the three contenders repeatedly face two questions: What are their ties to Russia? And where do the millions come from that FIDE uses to finance itself and its competitions? For the Kremlin, chess remains a component of Russia’s soft power, and little happens within FIDE without financial backers linked to Russia.

Jan Henric Buettner: The Formula 1 model

Buettner is arguably the best positioned to answer these questions. A native of Hamburg, he has made a name for himself in the chess world through his collaboration with former world champion Magnus Carlsen. The 62-year-old German has no known ties to Moscow that would require explanation. On the contrary: “We are the only team with no connection to Russia,” Malcolm Pein — Buettner’s candidate for vice president — told DW.

Buettner and his running mate say they intend to reduce reliance on Russian financial backers and make chess commercially successful. Buettner plans to distribute 20% of FIDE’s revenue to chess federations worldwide. The former AOL executive looks to Formula 1 motor racing as his model – a vision likely considered too radical by many officials in the chess world. Consequently, Buettner is seen as having only an outside chance of winning.

Timur Turlov: The establishment candidate

The favorite to become FIDE’s new president is Timur Turlov. Born in Moscow, he became a Kazakh citizen in 2022 and is one of the wealthiest men in the Central Asian nation. The entrepreneur is considered a close associate of outgoing President Dvorkovich and, by extension, a member of the FIDE establishment. Regarding finances, too, the status quo is likely to remain unchanged under the 38-year-old; after all, Turlov’s publicly traded financial firm, Freedom Holding Corp., has been FIDE’s main sponsor for many years.

The prospect of Turlov potentially holding the dual roles of FIDE president and major financial backer does not sit well with everyone in the chess community. Furthermore, Freedom Holding Corp. and its CEO are currently on Ukraine’s sanctions list. Ukrainian authorities accuse Turlov’s company of helping to finance Russia’s war of aggression. Press reports also suggest that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken an interest in Turlov’s financial firm.

Report: Hamburger Sparkasse closes account

In the spring of 2026, Turlov acquired the Hamburg-based chess software company Chessbase. Shortly thereafter, the German chess news website perlenvombodensee.de reported that the company’s principal bank, Hamburger Sparkasse, had closed the Chessbase business account.

Chessbase declined to comment on the matter. Hamburger Sparkasse also did not address the specific case but told DW: “If a business relationship falls under currently existing sanctions – for example, against countries such as Russia, Belarus, or Iran – this may unfortunately result in us being unable to continue specific business relationships.”

DW approached Timur Turlov for comment but had received no response by time of publication.

The position of Volodymyr Kovalchuk, vice president of the Ukrainian Chess Federation is clear.

“If Turlov wins the FIDE election and poses a threat to Ukraine’s security, then we will push for him to be sanctioned by the EU as well,” Kovalchuk told DW.

However, there are now signs of a rapprochement between Turlov and the Ukrainians: Turlov is currently advocating for a Ukrainian official to be elected as a vice president on the FIDE board.

Wadim Rosenstein: Many outstanding questions

The third figure in the mix, Wadim Rosenstein, is also facing intense scrutiny in Ukraine.

“It is absolutely clear that we will not support such a candidate and, should he be elected, will also propose him for sanctions,” Kovalchuk said.

Rosenstein was born in 1990 in what is now Ukraine and moved to Germany at the age of nine. In the autumn of 2022, the entrepreneur and amateur chess player began organizing elaborate chess events.

Questions have dogged him ever since, with his business activities and connections to Russia being the primary focus of this scrutiny. According to Rosenstein, the companies within his Düsseldorf-based “WR Group” operate in various sectors, ranging from toilet paper trading and real estate to industrial logistics. Until 2022, a key focus was supporting German companies in regions including Ukraine and Russia, Rosenstein told DW a few months ago. However, he said he was no longer active in Russia; instead positioning himself “globally” across “70 countries,” including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

The company in Russia

However, one of the Düsseldorf entrepreneur’s remaining companies in Russia has enjoyed economic success in recent years. In July, Rosenstein told DW that these companies were active “only on paper.”

It has since become clear that “WR RUS,” at least, is anything but a paper tiger. The Moscow-based company has been owned by Rosenstein since 2021. Publicly available data show that “WR RUS’s” profit grew from around €300,000 ($341,230) to €1.7 million ($1.93 million) between 2022 and 2025.

Furthermore, records confirm that Rosenstein’s German companies – “WR Logistics” and “WR Certification” – collaborated with “WR RUS” through the end of 2023. Documents from “WR RUS” also show a dividend payment equivalent to around €30,000 for the year 2023, which apparently went to him and one of his German companies.

DW again approached Wadim Rosenstein for comment on these matters but received no response by the time of publication of this report.

High-priced players, upscale venues

Since 2022, millions have been poured into Rosenstein’s elaborate chess events year after year. The list of Rosenstein’s events is long: it includes a top-tier tournament featuring world number one Magnus Carlsen, the 2023 World Team Blitz and Rapid Chess Championship at the prestigious Rheinterrasse in Düsseldorf, and, most recently, the global “WR Women’s Chess Tour.” A premium venue in Stuttgart has been selected for the tour’s finale in November – a location whose name the sponsor is likely to appreciate, Rosenstein Palace.

The FIDE presidential campaign is also costly. On social media, Rosenstein presents himself aboard a private jet during an international campaign tour. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper, a portion of the campaign costs is to be covered by Rosenstein’s running mate for the vice-presidency – a wealthy real estate entrepreneur from Singapore.

Rosenstein has not disclosed the total cost of his numerous chess activities to date or the exact source of the funds. His company, “WR Logistics,” is one of the main sponsors. Rosenstein told DW in July: “I have also used my own funds and brought on partners who trust me.”

But who are these partners?

A sponsor that didn’t exist

While Rosenstein was preparing his FIDE candidacy in April 2026, he introduced the Düsseldorf-based company “Glotech.” He stated he was “proud to introduce our next partner.” The sponsor is reportedly providing €250,000 for chess activities in Europe. According to Rosenstein, Glotech is “a true supporter of our vision.”

However, according to Glotech Managing Director Evgeni Schukin, this support never existed: “There was no agreement, and we did not make such funds available.”

Rosenstein is campaigning primarily on the pledge that FIDE would operate “professionally” under his leadership. On his official website, “WR 2026,” he promises transparent and direct communication.

DW approached Rosenstein for comment on the financing of his chess activities, but he did not respond.

Political connections

With the support of the DSB  and its president, Paul Meyer-Dunker, Rosenstein has succeeded in establishing himself as a serious challenger to the Turlov, the favorite within FIDE.

The 36-year-old also enjoys support from the world of German politics. In early September, Rosenstein met with Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann.

“Joachim Herrmann supports the candidacy of the German applicant Wadim Rosenstein,” a subsequently issued statement read.

The Bavarian Interior Ministry told DW that this support related to the “sport-specific focus” of the bid but did not constitute “an assessment of Mr. Rosenstein’s private or business activities, nor a prejudgment of any potential reviews by competent authorities.”

Online debate cut short

The DSB only learned of the meeting between its FIDE candidate and the Bavarian interior minister after the fact. According to Meyer-Dunker, the DSB supports Rosenstein because he stands for “consistent professionalization” and “greater transparency” within the World Chess Federation. The DSB “has no information regarding Wadim Rosenstein’s business activities beyond what has appeared in public reports,” Meyer-Dunker said.

Rosenstein had an opportunity to address questions and explain his plans for FIDE’s finances in early September. A US chess website had organized an online debate for the candidates. Rosenstein delivered the opening statement; he spoke for just under four minutes, then suddenly exclaimed: “See you in Samarkand!” before cutting the connection.

DW has approached Rosenstein several times to ask why he did not participate in the rest of the discussion regarding FIDE’s future. There has been no response to this either.

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Dasha Thyssen contributed to this article as a co-author. This article was originally published in German. 

Republic of Ireland winger Chiedozie Ogbene has urged the public to not “put the pressure on us” over the campaign to boycott the upcoming Nations League games against Israel.

The sides are due to meet in Debrecen, Hungary on Sunday before the return fixture in Backa Topola, Serbia on 4 October (both 19:45 BST).

Since the sides were drawn together in Group B3, there has been increasing calls in Ireland to withdraw from the games due to the ongoing situation in Gaza with a ‘Stop The Game’ campaign gathering pace.

In the lead up to Thursday’s 1-0 defeat by Kosovo in Pristina stand-in captain Dara O’Shea confirmed the players would meet on Friday to discuss their approach to Sunday’s ‘home’ game for Israel, which will have no Irish fans in attendance before their behind-closed-doors match the following week.

“I’m aware of the feelings towards it,” Ogbene told RTE Sport after Thursday’s loss.

“It’s a complicated and very difficult task. I just want to say and I hope people don’t put the pressure on us to be answering difficult situations.

“There are people who can make the decisions and you can’t rely on footballers to make those decisions. That’s my feeling on it but as a group we will look at it and will see what we’re going to do.”

Uefa believes “a clear two-speed system” is emerging in the transfer market as a result of the huge spending by Premier League clubs this summer.

In its latest European club talent and competition landscape report, European football’s governing body laid bare just how dominant the transfer activity of English clubs has become.

Uefa’s report said that the estimated €4.6bn (£4bn) spend by Premier League clubs is “larger than that of the next eight largest European countries combined”.

Andrea Traverso, Uefa’s executive director of finance, said that this trend “raises concerns”.

“Transfer values continue to rise sharply, particularly in the English market, increasing future pressure on club financial results,” Traverso wrote.

“These developments also point to an increasing concentration of talent and a growing polarisation of the market, with the emergence of a clear two-speed system.

“English clubs were involved in more than 60% of the deals and paid an average of around €24m (£20.7m) per inbound player, compared with only around €4m (£3.4m) to €5m (£4.3m) in the other major European leagues, underlining a widening gap in purchasing power.”

Traverso said that any “correction in transfer values” or “slowdown in buyer demand” could have serious implications for any club carrying debt.

The report added that the transfer spend of the 20 Premier League clubs this year is “equivalent to 56% of their annual revenue” – much higher than the 33% average of the pre-Covid decade.

Uefa also highlighted the increasing trend for English clubs to do big-value transfers between each other, which showed a 44% increase to €1.55bn (£1.33bn).

The English domestic market was “as large in fee value as the next five market flows combined”.

A market flow describes league-to-league deals. After the English domestic market, the next most lucrative was the German Bundesliga to the Premier League, at €690m (£594m).

The number of European transfer fees paid above €50m has significantly increased, from 14 in the summer of 2024 to 23 in 2025. In 2026 there was another jump to 35 such deals, of which Premier League clubs were responsible for 29.

With pressure to pass financial regulations, clubs have increasingly looked to sell academy players as they provide pure profit on the books.

European clubs generated an estimated profit of €6.8bn (£5.85bn) on these sales over the summer, an increase of €655m (£564bn) on 2025.

Uefa also found little evidence of clubs using multi-club ownership structures to move players for inflated or reduced fees.

Total transfer fees of such deals were €152m (£130.8m) with an estimated market value of €159m (£136.8m).

More than half of this spend came from transfers between Chelsea and Strasbourg.

AEW star Thekla recently discussed a former WWE Champion potentially joining the Jacksonville-based promotion.

The star with four WWE championships is Kairi Sane. The Pirate Princess has not been seen in the ring since the TKO-led company released her in April. A report last month said her representatives had been in talks with All Elite Wrestling; however, they made it clear that Sane had not signed any contract.

Amid major speculation regarding her future, Thekla spoke about Kairi Sane in a recent interview with TV Insider. The Toxic Spider acknowledged that Sane had been the talk of the town; however, she made it clear that she would believe the rumors once she sees Sane in AEW.

“I always like new faces coming in. I still consider myself a new face somehow. It has only been a little bit over a year for me. I’m a huge fan of people just going from one territory to the other, like in the old days. I’m very excited to see who’s gonna step up, you know? Kairi has been the talk of the town. I’m only going to believe it once I see it. For the fans, it’s always cool to see a new matchup. We’ll see. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Let us see if we can pice it up a little bit.” – H/T WrestlePurists

AEW star Thekla on freedom to cut promos on live television

In the same interview, Thekla was asked how much freedom she has when cutting promos on live TV. The former AEW Women’s World Champion said that while it is hard for her not to say banned words that led to fines, she pretty much says what she wants during her promos.

“Apart from the usual stuff they try to make sure I don’t say on TV? It’s very hard for me not to say on TV that whole list of words that we get fined for. Other than that, I get to say pretty much what I want. I take a lot of inspiration from what I really like, and what I really feel, and what I think about people and myself. “

Furthermore, the Toxic Spider is set to face Willow Nightingale at All Out 2026 with a future AEW Women’s World title opportunity hanging in the balance. So, it remains to be seen if she will defeat her and move on to WrestleDream PPV to challenge the reigning champion, Mercedes Mone.