The name Timur Turlov has become increasingly familiar in both the financial and chess worlds. As the founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., Turlov has built his career around financial services and business development. In September 2026, his public profile expanded further when he was elected President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), creating a new chapter in a career that now connects finance, technology, education and international chess.
Timur Turlov was born in 1987 and developed his professional career in the financial sector. He founded Freedom Holding Corp. and gradually expanded the company's activities beyond its original focus on investment and brokerage services.
The company has grown into a diversified financial group with operations spanning areas such as brokerage, banking, insurance and digital services. Freedom Holding Corp. is publicly traded on Nasdaq, giving the business an international presence and a connection to global capital markets. FIDE's biography of Turlov describes him as an economist and the company's CEO.
Turlov's approach to business has increasingly included technology as an important part of the customer experience. The development of digital platforms and financial services reflects a broader change taking place across the financial industry, where customers expect banking, investing, payments and other services to be accessible through digital channels.
Rather than treating technology as a separate part of the business, Freedom has increasingly incorporated digital products into its wider ecosystem. That strategy has helped shape Turlov's public image as an entrepreneur interested in combining financial services with technology.
Freedom Holding's growth is an important part of Turlov's business story. The company has expanded its activities across several markets while developing a wider portfolio of financial and digital services.
Turlov has also shown an interest in businesses and technologies connected with financial technology and digital content. In 2026, Freedom Holding acquired ChessBase, a well-known chess software and analytics platform. The company said it planned to invest approximately €5 million in its further development.
The connection between Freedom's technology interests and Turlov's involvement in chess is particularly notable. ChessBase is not simply an online chess platform; its software, databases and analytical tools are widely associated with serious chess training and game analysis. Bringing such technology into a broader digital ecosystem creates an opportunity to connect traditional chess culture with modern digital tools.
This also illustrates how Turlov's professional interests have developed beyond conventional financial services.
Turlov's relationship with chess did not begin with his FIDE election. He has played chess since childhood and became increasingly involved in supporting the sport in Kazakhstan and internationally.
In January 2023, he became President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. During his tenure, the country expanded its involvement in school chess, tournaments and international events. He also became involved in regional chess cooperation through the Turkic Chess Association.
His involvement has included financial support as well. According to FIDE, Freedom Holding Corp. allocated approximately $30 million toward chess development in Kazakhstan over a three-year period and supported more than 20 major international FIDE tournaments.
Freedom Holding also became an official FIDE partner for chess development programmes in 2026. The cooperation covered tournament sponsorship, support for players and training centres, educational programmes and talent-development initiatives.
These activities have given Turlov a substantial role in the business side of chess before he took on an international leadership position within FIDE.
One of the clearest themes in Turlov's work around chess is education.
In September 2024, the International School Chess Federation was established with Turlov as its founding president. The organisation focuses on expanding chess in schools and encouraging young people to learn the game.
The idea behind school chess goes beyond producing professional players. Chess can be used as an educational activity that encourages children to think carefully, evaluate options and make decisions before acting.
At the 2026 FIDE Summit on Chess in Education in Samarkand, Turlov discussed the importance of making educational chess programmes systematic and scalable. He pointed to Kazakhstan's expansion of its school chess programme as an example of how the game can reach a large number of students.
This educational focus gives chess a wider role. Instead of being viewed only as a competitive game, it can become part of broader programmes aimed at developing concentration, problem-solving and analytical thinking.
The biggest recent development in Turlov's career came on September 26, 2026, when delegates at the FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand elected him as the federation's eighth president.
The election took place alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad. Turlov received 96 votes in the first round and then won the second round with 110 votes against 85 for Wadim Rosenstein. At 38, he became the second-youngest person elected to lead FIDE.
His election places a business executive with experience in finance and technology at the head of the organisation responsible for international chess.
Turlov's plans have included greater use of digital solutions, stronger support for national federations and broader access to chess. His experience with technology and large-scale business operations could become particularly relevant as FIDE continues adapting to a rapidly changing digital environment.
His election has also attracted attention because of his existing relationship with chess development. As a national federation president, tournament supporter and advocate for school chess, he already had experience working with different parts of the chess community before taking on the FIDE presidency.
Technology is likely to remain an important part of the next stage of chess development.
Online platforms have already changed how people play, study and follow tournaments. Digital databases, engines, educational applications and streaming services have made high-level chess more accessible to players who may never have the opportunity to train with a grandmaster in person.
Turlov's background in technology-driven financial services provides a different perspective on how these tools can be developed and scaled. His involvement with ChessBase further connects his business interests with the digital side of chess.
The challenge will be finding a balance between innovation and the traditional values of the game. Chess has a centuries-old culture, but its modern audience increasingly discovers and follows it through smartphones, computers and online platforms.
Timur Turlov's career now sits at the intersection of several rapidly changing fields. His work with Freedom Holding has established him as a financial-sector entrepreneur, while his involvement in Kazakhstan's chess community has given him experience in sports administration and education.
His election as FIDE President brings those experiences together on an international stage. The coming years will show how effectively the federation can translate ideas around digitalisation, education, youth development and international cooperation into practical programmes.
For Turlov, the FIDE presidency represents more than a new professional title. It connects his business background with a longstanding personal interest in chess and gives him an opportunity to work on the development of the game at a global level.
As chess continues to grow through schools, online platforms, international tournaments and digital technology, Turlov's combination of financial and technology experience could make this an interesting period for the sport. His new role marks the beginning of a different chapter for both his career and his involvement with the global chess community.
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