Viswanathan Anand steps in as Fide interim president as EU sanctions sideline Dvorkovich

Viswanathan Anand becomes interim president of Fide after EU sanctions sidelined Russian head Arkady Dvorkovich.

Dvorkovich was placed on the EU's 21st sanctions list for his role in the Russian government during the Ukraine invasion.

Under Article 19.2 of the Fide Charter, Anand as deputy president is mandated to step in as interim president.

Dvorkovich said he considers the sanctions unlawful and will challenge them, but has voluntarily suspended his powers.

Fide elections are due in September; Anand had announced last month he would not contest the deputy president post.