Buettner: “A stronger FIDE must mean stronger national federations”
Only hours after Wadim Rosenstein’s pronouncement, Jan Henric Buettner, a German entrepreneur and co-founder of Freestyle Chess, has announced that he will also run for President of FIDE. His ticket will include Malcolm Pein, the English International Master, organiser and journalist, as candidate for Deputy President.
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Buettner is a German businessman with a background in internet ventures, investment and hospitality. He was involved in the development of AOL Europe in the 1990s and later became associated with Weissenhaus, the Baltic Sea resort where he has hosted major chess events. His chess activity has focused on event creation, presentation and alternative formats.
In recent years, Buettner has become best known in chess as one of the founders of Freestyle Chess, alongside Magnus Carlsen. The project began with the Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge in Weissenhaus and later developed into a wider tour using the chess960 format. Buettner has presented the format as a way to reduce opening preparation and give more weight to over-the-board decision-making.
Malcolm Pein is one of the most established figures in English chess. An International Master, he has worked as a player, coach, organiser, writer and administrator. He has been active in several areas of chess promotion in the United Kingdom.
Pein is also known for organising the London Chess Classic and for founding Chess in Schools and Communities. In FIDE politics, he previously stood for Deputy President in 2018 as part of Georgios Makropoulos’s ticket, which was defeated by Arkady Dvorkovich’s campaign.
Press release by the Campaign Office of Jan Henric Buettner
Hamburg, Germany – 26 June 2026
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Entrepreneur, investor, and chess patron Jan Henric Buettner today announced that he will stand as a candidate for the Presidency of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) at the forthcoming FIDE General Assembly.
Buettner confirmed that Malcolm Pein, one of the world’s most respected chess organisers, publishers, and international chess leaders, has agreed to join his ticket as candidate for Deputy President.
The campaign will be built on a simple principle:
A stronger FIDE must mean stronger national federations.
Speaking after returning from the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in Hong Kong, where he met personally with delegates from around the world, Buettner said:
“Over the past months, many respected members of the international chess community have encouraged me to stand for the Presidency of FIDE. After extensive discussions with delegates from every continent, I have decided to accept that responsibility.
Chess has never enjoyed greater global visibility or greater potential. The next chapter should focus on empowering our member federations, expanding opportunities for players at every level, strengthening governance and transparency, and creating sustainable long-term growth for our sport.”
Rather than launching a traditional political campaign centered on promises, Buettner announced that the coming weeks will be dedicated to an extensive worldwide consultation with all member federations.
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Every federation will be invited to participate in personal discussions about its priorities, challenges and ambitions. The feedback from these meetings will directly shape the campaign’s final manifesto, which will be presented ahead of the FIDE General Assembly.
“Leadership begins by listening. Every federation has different challenges and different aspirations. Before presenting final proposals, I want to hear directly from those we are here to serve. My objective is not simply to win an election. It is to build a programme that genuinely reflects the needs of the global chess community.”
Buettner emphasized that his campaign will focus on partnership, integrity, transparency, measurable outcomes, and service leadership.
Its priorities will include:
- strengthening national federations through practical support;
- expanding commercial partnerships and sponsorship opportunities;
- growing chess in schools and among young people;
- increasing opportunities for women and emerging chess nations;
- improving transparency and governance;
- accelerating digital innovation; and
- creating sustainable long-term growth for the global chess ecosystem.
Malcolm Pein said: “Jan brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial experience, international credibility and genuine passion for chess. We share the conviction that FIDE’s greatest responsibility is to serve and strengthen its member federations. I am delighted to join him in this campaign.”
The campaign has already begun engaging with federations across all continents and will continue to meet personally with every member federation in the weeks leading up to the General Assembly.
“We approach this election with respect for everyone who has contributed to world chess over many years,” Buettner concluded.
“Our campaign is not about personalities. It is about the future of chess, about serving our federations, and about working together to create new opportunities for players, organisers and federations across every continent. The campaign will be built on a simple principle: FIDE has over 200 national federations as its ultimate beneficial stakeholders. A stronger FIDE must mean stronger national federations”.
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