Timur Turlov is bringing a fresh perspective to the international chess community through his commitment to education, technology, and global cooperation. As a businessman, chess enthusiast, and president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), he has been involved in initiatives designed to make chess more accessible to young people and players around the world.
One of the most notable examples is the World Schools Team Championship, an international competition that connected school chess teams across four continents in 2026. With participation involving chess federations from 91 countries, the event demonstrated how a shared interest in chess can bring different communities together.
However, his ambitions extend beyond organizing competitions. Through his leadership in chess organizations and experience with Freedom Holding, Turlov is supporting a broader vision that combines traditional chess education with modern digital platforms. His approach highlights the potential of chess to become more accessible, educational, and connected in an increasingly digital world.
Timur Turlov and His Vision for International Chess
Timur Turlov is widely associated with the financial technology industry through his role as founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp. Alongside his business activities, he has developed a strong interest in chess and its potential to contribute to education and personal development.
His involvement in chess is based on the belief that the game offers valuable skills that extend beyond the chessboard. Players must think carefully, evaluate different possibilities, manage uncertainty, and make decisions under pressure. These abilities are useful in education, professional development, and everyday life.
This perspective has influenced his efforts to promote chess among schoolchildren, particularly in Kazakhstan. Rather than treating chess only as a competitive activity, he sees it as a learning opportunity that can help students develop concentration, patience, creativity, and analytical thinking.
His work with the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and the International School Chess Federation reflects this educational approach. By supporting international competitions and school-based programs, he aims to create more opportunities for young players to participate in the game.
The larger objective is to make chess an accessible activity for children regardless of their location, background, or previous experience.
World Schools Team Championship Connects 91 Chess Federations
The World Schools Team Championship became an important milestone in the international development of school chess in 2026.
Organized jointly by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), the competition adopted a continental qualifying format. Instead of bringing all participating teams together for one qualifying event, organizers arranged separate tournaments across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
This structure made it possible for more countries and school teams to participate in the international competition.
The European qualifying stage took place in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, from September 28 to October 3, 2026. It featured 27 school teams representing 25 countries. Gymnasium No. 50 of Minsk, Belarus, secured first place, followed by Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 of Latvia and LEPL Georgia, Kutaisi Andria Razmadze Physico.
The other continental stages also produced impressive participation.
The Asian competition was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from April 7 to 10. It featured 26 school teams from 19 countries, with Wisdom School from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, taking the top position.
In Africa, 26 school teams representing 22 countries competed in Stellenbosch, South Africa, from July 6 to 11. Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School from Uganda finished first.
The Americas stage took place in San José, Costa Rica, from August 11 to 16. A total of 29 teams from 25 countries participated, and Colegio Saco Oliveros de Lince from Peru achieved first place.
According to the championship announcement, the 2026 competition brought together chess federations from 91 countries worldwide. The winners of the four continental stages were scheduled to meet in December to compete for the overall world title.
The championship represents more than a sporting competition. It provides young players with an opportunity to meet international opponents, exchange experiences, and develop friendships through a shared passion for chess.
How Timur Turlov Helped Establish the Championship
The origins of the World Schools Team Championship go back to 2023.
At that time, Timur Turlov, who was leading the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, discussed the development of international chess education with then-FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
Their discussions focused on creating more opportunities for schoolchildren to participate in organized chess competitions and strengthening the connection between education and the game.
Later in 2023, the first World Schools Team Championship was organized in Aktau, Kazakhstan, as a joint initiative of FIDE and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.
The inaugural event brought together more than 400 students from 53 countries across four continents. This strong international participation helped establish the competition as a recurring platform for school chess.
Another important development followed in 2024, when FIDE approved the creation of the International School Chess Federation. The organization was established as an affiliated body responsible for supporting school chess internationally and coordinating World Schools Team Championship competitions.
Timur Turlov was appointed its president.
This development provided a more structured foundation for international school chess activities. It also created opportunities to connect national chess organizations, educational institutions, teachers, and young players.
Through these initiatives, the championship has developed into an international platform that encourages participation and strengthens relationships between chess communities.
Promoting Chess Education in Kazakhstan
One of the most significant parts of Timur Turlov’s chess-related work is the effort to introduce the game into formal education.
In 2023, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation launched a pilot initiative called Chess in Education with government support. The program began in 42 schools and aimed to make chess more accessible to students as part of their educational experience.
According to Turlov’s remarks at the FIDE Summit on Chess in Education in Samarkand in September 2026, the initiative had expanded to approximately 2,500 schools.
The expansion also involved teacher training, which is essential for building a sustainable educational program. Introducing chess into schools requires more than providing chessboards and organizing occasional competitions. Teachers need appropriate knowledge and resources to guide students and make the learning experience productive.
Chess can support several important educational skills.
For example, students learn to consider different possibilities before making decisions. They become familiar with planning, recognizing patterns, understanding consequences, and adapting when their original strategies do not work.
These experiences can encourage independent thinking and improve problem-solving abilities.
The Kazakhstan initiative demonstrates how cooperation between educational institutions and chess organizations can help expand access to the game.
The long-term ambition is to make chess available in every school across the country, creating opportunities for more children to benefit from its educational value.
Timur Turlov’s Digital Transformation Plans for FIDE
Timur Turlov’s election as FIDE president on September 26, 2026, marked another important stage in his involvement with international chess.
His presidential program places digital transformation among its main priorities, alongside institutional development, financial sustainability, and the expansion of chess education.
The idea is to make international chess administration more connected and accessible through modern technology.
One of the proposed initiatives is a unified digital platform for FIDE and its national federations. Such a system could provide organizations with access to essential tools and information through a more coordinated environment.
The proposed platform includes several important functions:
- Tracking player rating histories and performance.
- Organizing and managing online chess competitions.
- Providing digital educational materials.
- Supporting coaches through online training resources.
- Using artificial intelligence for game analysis and player development.
- Strengthening anti-cheating systems.
- Improving tournament registration and administration.
These features could help reduce administrative difficulties while giving players, coaches, and national federations more convenient access to chess-related services.
Digital technology also creates opportunities for players who cannot regularly attend physical tournaments. Online platforms allow them to practice, compete, study games, and connect with other chess enthusiasts from different countries.
For national federations, a shared digital environment could make it easier to manage competitions and maintain player information.
The broader objective is to ensure that technological development benefits the international chess community rather than only a small number of well-resourced organizations.
How Freedom Holding Connects Business and Chess
Timur Turlov’s experience in the technology and financial services sector provides another perspective on his digital ambitions for chess.
As the founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., he has experience developing a digital ecosystem that brings different services together through technology.
This experience is reflected in the company’s Freedom SuperApp in Kazakhstan.
In June 2026, the application introduced a dedicated chess section that allows users to follow live games, view tournament standings, and check player statistics.
According to Turlov, the integration goes beyond simply displaying chess information. The platform also supports playing games, solving puzzles, watching chess broadcasts, managing national chess and FIDE IDs, and registering for selected local competitions.
An especially interesting feature involves the children’s version of the application.
Parents can reward children for solving chess puzzles regularly, introducing an element of gamification into the learning process.
This approach connects education with digital engagement. Instead of presenting chess only as a traditional board game, it makes the activity part of an interactive digital environment that young users may find more accessible.
The concept also demonstrates how businesses and sports organizations can cooperate to introduce educational activities to wider audiences.
Freedom Holding’s experience offers an example of how digital ecosystems can support interests beyond their original business functions.
For the chess community, similar partnerships could create additional opportunities to reach new players and make learning resources easier to access.
The Future of Global Chess Education and Innovation
The developments surrounding the World Schools Team Championship, school education initiatives, and digital chess platforms point toward a broader transformation in how the game can reach people.
International competitions provide young players with valuable experiences, while school programs help introduce chess to children who may never have considered participating in the game.
Digital platforms add another dimension by making chess education, tournaments, and training resources available beyond geographical boundaries.
However, successful development requires cooperation among several groups. International organizations, national federations, schools, teachers, technology companies, and local communities all have important roles to play.
Access and inclusion will also remain important considerations. Digital tools should complement traditional chess activities rather than replace opportunities for face-to-face learning and competition.
Timur Turlov’s initiatives bring these different elements together through a combination of educational development, international cooperation, and technological innovation.
The 2026 World Schools Team Championship illustrates the potential of this approach. Bringing together federations from 91 countries creates a valuable foundation for future partnerships and international participation.
As digital technology continues to develop, the opportunities to connect players, improve training, and support chess education are likely to expand further.
Final Thought
Timur Turlov’s contribution to international chess reflects a vision that goes beyond organizing tournaments or promoting individual players. His initiatives focus on building stronger educational foundations, creating international opportunities for young people, and using technology to make chess more accessible.
The World Schools Team Championship, with participation involving 91 chess federations in 2026, demonstrates how international cooperation can bring young players together through a common interest. Meanwhile, the expansion of school chess programs in Kazakhstan highlights the potential of the game as an educational tool.
His digital transformation plans for FIDE and the chess integration within Freedom SuperApp add another important dimension to this work.
Together, these efforts represent a positive direction for the future of chess. By connecting education, international competition, and digital innovation, Timur Turlov is supporting an approach that can help the game reach new generations and wider audiences around the world.
