Vadim Rosenstein: biography, chess career, and questions surrounding the FIDE presidential candidate

Until a few years ago, Vadim Rosenstein was known primarily within business circles and among professionals involved in international business. Later, the entrepreneur became a prominent figure in professional chess, and in 2026, he found himself at the center of global chess community attention due to the election for the presidency of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Three presidential tickets are officially participating in the election:

• Vadim Rosenstein and Gordon Tang;
• Jan Henrik Büttner and Malcolm Pein;
• Timur Turlov and Viswanathan Anand.

Who is Vadim Rosenstein?

Wadim Rosenstein was born in 1990 in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine and moved to Germany with his family during his childhood. He was educated in Düsseldorf, where he also began his business career. According to his published biography, Rosenstein studied business administration in Germany and later earned an Executive MBA from the SGMI Management Institute St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Rosenstein’s entrepreneurial activities are linked to the WR Group. According to his campaign team, the group was established in 2014 and currently operates in over 70 countries. His professional background includes work in logistics, real estate, infrastructure, and other international projects.

At the same time, chess holds a special place in his life. Rosenstein himself recounts that he was introduced to the game in childhood by his grandfather. Over time, his interest in chess evolved into sponsoring tournaments, developing chess-related projects, and participating in chess administration.

Transition from business to professional chess

A significant milestone in Rosenstein’s chess-related activities was the founding and development of WR Chess. Tournaments and new competition formats—including the WR Chess Masters and team rapid and blitz events—were organized with his involvement. The official campaign website also credits his team with organizing the WR Chess Juniors and various women’s chess initiatives.

The candidate himself presents this experience as a practical foundation for his future work within FIDE. His platform calls for a more professional approach to the federation’s organization, support for national federations, commercial development, improved governance, and the creation of new opportunities for players and organizers. These points are part of Rosenstein’s own election platform and do not constitute an official assessment by FIDE.

In 2025, the club associated with Rosenstein won the German Bundesliga championship. The candidate also highlights this achievement as part of his sporting track record.