The chess world has been thrown into turmoil after the president of the International Chess Federation (Fide), Arkady Dvorkovich, announced his resignation because he was included in the latest European Union sanctions list.

Dvorkovich, 54, Russia’s former deputy prime minister and Kremlin adviser, now faces an EU travel ban and an asset freeze.

The EU said its inclusion was due to “publicly supporting the annexation of Crimea and calling occupied Ukrainian cities ‘new territories’ of the Russian Federation.”

In a statement, Dvorkovich said he had decided to “voluntarily suspend the exercise of my powers and duties.”, externalbut told the BBC he had not resigned.

He called the sanctions decision “illegal and unfair” and said the sanctions were intended to “prevent me from running and serving for Fide.”

Ukraine has hailed the move as “an important victory.”

Dvorkovich was elected president of Fide for the first time in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

The EU also cited its presence in the board of the Russian Chess Federation, externalwhich has organized tournaments in occupied areas of Ukraine.

“We hope to never see this man again in the chess world,” said Volodymyr Kovalchuk, first vice president of the Ukrainian Chess Federation. “People who develop sport in the interests of an aggressor state have no place in high international positions.”

Malcolm Pein, England’s representative to Fide, described the move as “an earthquake and a huge diplomatic victory for Ukraine.”

“It can significantly reduce Russia’s influence in the chess world, something that – before the USSR and then Russia – has dominated and used as a tool of soft power since the Second World War,” he told the BBC.

Arkady Dvorkovich has overseen the federation during one of the most turbulent periods in football history.

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago, Russian national teams were excluded from international chess competitions.

But Ukraine and its allies say Russian influence within Fide has intensified under Dvorkovich’s leadership.

Moscow has been accused of carrying out a “slow takeover” of the federation, changing its internal rules and pressuring officials in other nations to vote in favor of Russia, which Moscow denies.

Two years ago, with Dvorkovich at the helm, an attempt was made to officially readmit Russian teams and officials. But in a crucial vote in September 2024, Fide’s general assembly opted to maintain sanctions against Russia and its ally, Belarus.

Volodymyr Kovalchuk argues that Russia invested a lot in controlling the federation. “They believed that chess represented intellectual superiority. That is why it is so important who controls it: through Fide, favorable ideas [to Moscow] were being promoted,” he said.

This was disputed by Arkady Dvorkovich, who told the BBC in written responses that “the accusations about ‘Russian influence’ are false and contradict the way Fide is governed.”

“La Fide is headquartered in Switzerland… our senior executives include people from India, Norway, Latvia, the United States, Italy, France… and other countries around the world.”

The former Kremlin official had intended to run for re-election as Fide head in September, but his future is now uncertain.

Chess is booming around the world, with sky-high viewing figures driving big sponsorship deals and celebrity status for players like Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.

But there is now speculation that the possible departure of one of the most powerful and controversial figures in international chess could herald a new era in the game’s leadership.