EXCLUSIVE: Buettner Denies Withdrawal and Reveals Offer to Turlov-Anand Camp.
By Robby B. · Wed, 23 Sep 2026
Chess News Network obtained a message to FIDE delegates in which Jan Buettner firmly rejects withdrawal rumours and says his ticket remains fully committed to contesting the election.
FIDE presidential candidate Jan Henric Buettner has told delegates there is “zero possibility” that he and running mate Malcolm Pein will withdraw from the presidential race, following speculation about discussions between Buettner and rival candidate Timur Turlov.Chess News Network has obtained a message circulated to FIDE delegates in the final days before the presidential election, in which Buettner directly addresses rumours surrounding his campaign and gives delegates an account of private discussions taking place between the rival tickets.The FIDE presidential election is scheduled for September 26 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. FIDE has confirmed three tickets for the election: Jan Henric Buettner and Malcolm Pein; Timur Turlov and Viswanathan Anand; and Wadim Rosenstein and Gordon Tang. Each member federation represented at the General Assembly is entitled to one vote.The message, beginning “Dear friends,” was circulated to delegates with less than 72 hours remaining before the vote. Buettner appears to have sent it in response to speculation prompted by a short video clip showing him speaking with Turlov in the lobby of the Minyoun Hotel.According to Buettner, the encounter had led to suggestions that the Buettner-Pein ticket could withdraw from the race or reach an arrangement under which it would effectively join the Turlov-Anand campaign.Buettner rejected that interpretation in unequivocal terms.“Let me make this absolutely clear: that will not happen.”He continued:“There is zero possibility that I will withdraw our candidacy or fold our campaign into another ticket before the election.”Buettner said he and Pein would continue seeking delegate support until voting begins on Saturday morning, describing their objective simply: “We are in this election to win it.”Campaign shares private canvassing figuresThe message also gives delegates a glimpse into the Buettner-Pein campaign’s own assessment of the race.Buettner said the campaign had spoken “directly, personally and privately” with approximately 150 delegates. According to figures contained in the message, the campaign recorded the following responses:Buettner/Pein — 41% Turlov/Anand — 26% Rosenstein/Tang — 19% Undecided — 14%Buettner stressed that the figures were neither official polling nor a prediction of how delegates would vote in a secret ballot.The numbers should therefore be understood as campaign-reported private canvassing data, not an independent survey. Chess News Network has not independently verified either the sample of delegates contacted or the individual responses described in the message.Publicly available information also does not provide a reliable substitute for a poll of the secret ballot. FIDE’s election system gives represented member federations one vote each, while public endorsements do not necessarily establish how delegates will ultimately vote.Nevertheless, Buettner told delegates that the campaign’s internal feedback was one reason his ticket remained focused on contesting the election through to the end.Perhaps the most notable part of the message concerns Buettner’s conversations with Turlov and former FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. Buettner confirmed that talks had taken place, but presented them very differently from suggestions that his own campaign might be preparing to join Turlov’s.“I have indeed been speaking with Arkady and Timur,” he wrote, adding that he was speaking with figures “from all sides of this election.”Buettner then disclosed what he said was his own proposal to the Turlov-Anand side. According to the message, beginning on Saturday and again in subsequent discussions, Buettner proposed that Turlov and Anand consider joining forces with his campaign rather than the Buettner-Pein ticket joining theirs.Under the arrangement described by Buettner, he would remain president if elected, while Turlov could be given significant responsibility for commercial development and school chess. Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, who is standing as Turlov’s candidate for Deputy President, could take a leading role in matters relating to players, according to Buettner’s proposal.Buettner also said Dvorkovich could be offered “an appropriate honorary role” recognising his contribution to FIDE. The message does not indicate that Turlov, Anand or Dvorkovich have accepted the proposal. Buettner himself acknowledged that point, telling delegates that whether they were interested was “entirely their decision.”Chess News Network has not independently confirmed an agreement between the camps. The intervention comes during the closing stages of a three-way presidential campaign that has featured Buettner, Turlov and Rosenstein presenting competing programmes for FIDE.Turlov has recently discussed issues including compliance with international sports rulings, anti-cheating, digital development and support for smaller federations, while Rosenstein has highlighted governance reform, commercial development and his ambition to bring Magnus Carlsen back into the classical world championship cycle.Buettner, meanwhile, has campaigned on themes including institutional reform, transparency, commercial development and strengthening FIDE’s member federations. His message to delegates, however, appears aimed less at setting out another policy programme than at removing any ambiguity about his immediate intentions.He closed with three short declarations:“Buettner/Pein is not withdrawing. Buettner/Pein is not being folded into another campaign. We are running to win.”Buettner said delegates should therefore expect to continue seeing him talking not only with Turlov and Dvorkovich, but with representatives across FIDE as campaigning continues through the final days before the ballot.With the election due on Saturday, the conversations taking place in Samarkand, publicly and behind closed doors, are likely to remain under close scrutiny until delegates cast their votes.-FULL MESSAGE:Dear friends,With less than 72 hours until the election, it is understandable that all three tickets are doing everything they can to make their case to delegates.A recent short clip of Timur Turlov and me talking in the lobby of the Minyoun Hotel has apparently led to speculation - and, in some cases, claims - that the Buettner/Pein ticket might withdraw or somehow be folded into the Turlov/Anand campaign.Let me make this absolutely clear: that will not happen.There is zero possibility that I will withdraw our candidacy or fold our campaign into another ticket before the election.Malcolm and I are in this election to win it. We will fight for every single vote until the voting begins on Saturday morning, and I remain personally available to speak with any of you - including here on the terrace of the Minyoun Hotel.Since there is so much speculation about numbers, I would also like to share transparently what our own private canvassing is telling us.Based on conversations with approximately 150 delegates whom we have spoken to directly, personally and privately, the responses we have recorded are approximately:41% Buettner/Pein 26% Turlov/Anand 19% Rosenstein/Tang 14% undecidedThese are not official polling numbers and they are certainly not a prediction of a secret ballot. They are simply the feedback we have received from the delegates we have spoken to. But they explain why we are completely focused on winning this election and why we are campaigning for every vote until the very end.They also explain something else.I have indeed been speaking with Arkady and Timur. I speak with people from all sides of this election, and I believe that is exactly how politics within the chess family should work.In fact, beginning on Saturday and reiterated yesterday, I proposed to them that they consider joining forces with us — not the other way around.My proposal is that, under a Buettner presidency, Timur could take major responsibility for commercial development and school chess, Vishy could play a leading role on player-related matters, and Arkady could be offered an appropriate honorary role in recognition of his contribution to FIDE.Whether they accept such an idea is entirely their decision.But I want you to know the facts directly from me rather than through rumours:Buettner/Pein is not withdrawing.Buettner/Pein is not being folded into another campaign.We are running to win.That is why you may see me talking with Timur, Arkady, others - and, most importantly, with as many of you as possible.I look forward to many more conversations with you today, tomorrow and Friday.Yours sincerely, Jan