building the next generation of global chess
Timur Turlov focuses on creating sustainable growth, expanding opportunities for national federations and bringing modern technology into every level of the chess ecosystem.
President
President
President
Founder & CEO
business leadership
digital transformation
proven commitment to global chess
business leadership
digital transformation
proven commitment to global chess
BUILT ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS IN Central Asia
Millions of active digital users
Al-first approach across financial services
LEADERSHIP AT GLOBAL SCALE
Operations across 20+ countries
Public company listed on NASDAQ
Global partnerships with leading companies
CREATED A LONG-TERM MODEL OF CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN CHESS
20+ major chess events sponsored worldwide
Support for professional, youth and school chess
3+ years of strategic partnership with FIDE
Timur Turlov and Freedom Holding:
Proud Partners of FIDE and Global Chess.
A PROVEN MODEL
FOR GLOBAL CHESS GROWTH
FOR GLOBAL CHESS GROWTH
This is a path we have already built. A practical model that can be adapted and scaled globally.
FEDERATION’S EXPERIENCE SHOWS WHAT IS POSSIBLE
WHEN THERE IS A CLEAR VISION AND CONSISTENT EXECUTION. FROM 2022 UNTIL TODAY WITH TIMUR TURLOV AS PRESIDENT OF KAZCHESS.
WHEN THERE IS A CLEAR VISION AND CONSISTENT EXECUTION. FROM 2022 UNTIL TODAY WITH TIMUR TURLOV AS PRESIDENT OF KAZCHESS.
launching chess as a subject at schools
Schools with chess
42
2023
350
2024
1500
2025
GOAL
2026
Teacher training
+2500 teachers to be trained
3500
2025
6000+
Dec 2026
International competition medals
126
2023
160
2024
162
2025
GOAL
2026
Key Title Achievements
Since 2023, Kazakhstan has also achieved a number of historic results:
Home to the world’s strongest youth national chess team;
Three-time Women’s World Blitz Champion;
Women’s national team won the country’s first-ever Chess Olympiad silver medal at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest;
World Junior Champion (Under-20, Open);
KazChess national team – World Team Blitz Championship silver medalist.
What has already been achieved
Digital transformation
We are completing the full digitalisation of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. This includes the complete digital transformation of federation operations, introducing modern management systems, improving governance and making services more accessible for players, clubs and organisers. The experience gained building a global fintech business applies directly to FIDE’s challenges.
Chess in schools
As President of the International School Chess Federation, I have worked with partners across the world to expand school chess through international competitions, educational initiatives and cooperation between federations and education systems. In just two years, chess has been introduced in more than 1,500 schools, giving over 60,000 children access to the game. Our next goal is chess in every school in the country.
Financial sustainability
For the first time in many years, we have established a sustainable funding model for the Kazakhstan Chess Federation through responsible cooperation with private-sector partners. Today, Freedom Holding Corp. is FIDE's principal commercial partner. For me, this partnership reflects a long-term commitment to chess. It also demonstrates the type of responsible, mutually beneficial partnership that I believe FIDE should continue to develop with leading international companies.
Investing in the future of chess
Earlier this year, I became an investor in ChessBase, one of the world's leading chess technology companies. This investment reflects my belief that innovation will play an increasingly important role in the future of chess. Modern technology should make our game more accessible, improve education, strengthen competition and provide better services for players and federations around the world.