CENTURION, South Africa (AP) — Garry Kasparov, a Russian who became the youngest world chess champion in 1985 at age 22 but quit the profession two decades later, wants to return as the head of the governing body of chess, challenging its longtime president in a campaign that already has both camps in attack mode.

The bid for leadership of the World Chess Federation in August elections also has a political edge with Kasparov being a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and of Russian action in Ukraine. World Chess Federation head Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is close to Putin and appeared chummy with him on Monday at a children’s chess event in Sochi, site of the 2014 Winter Olympics.