The current President of FIDE Kirsan Ilymzhinov and the former World Champion Garry Kasparov will go head to head at the upcoming FIDE President elections in 2014. Today they both announced their candidacy during the 84th FIDE Congress in Tallinn.
First to confirm he is running for FIDE Presient 2014-2018 was Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. During the morning session of the 84th Congress he announced he wants to continue his ongoing project for FIDE and promised a hefty 1 million euro for the Chess In School program. Kirsan Ilymzhinov has been President of FIDE since 1995 and was re-elected in 2010 where he defeated his rival Anatoly Karpov decisively, winning this election by 95 votes to 55.
Garry Kasparov announced he is running for FIDE President later the same evening. Garry Kasparov was the World Champion from 1985, when he dethroned Anatoly Karpov, to 1993 when he left FIDE to form PCA. He continued to reign the PCA as Champion until Vladimir Kramnik defeated him in 2000 in London.
Kasparov was the first player to break the magical 2800-elo barrier, during the tournament in Belgrade 1989. He also held the record for the highest rating ever achieved (2851) until Magnus Carlsen attained a new record high rating of 2861 in 2013.
Kasparov announced his ticket: Rex Sinquefield, Ignatius Leong, Afrika Msimang, Jan Callewaert, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Hamed, chessdom informs.
