FIDE Calls for Bids for 2024 World Chess Championship Match: Budget Figures Spark Debate

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has set the stage for the 2024 World Championship match, sparking a debate within the chess community with its budget figures. Following the conclusion of the Candidates Tournament, FIDE has announced that reigning champion GM Ding Liren will face challenger GM Gukesh Dommaraju in a highly anticipated match scheduled between November 20 and December 15. Now, the hunt for an organizer has begun.

Last week, FIDE issued a call for bids for the match, with new requirements compared to the previous year. The minimum total budget set at $8.5 million, a minimum total prize fund of $2.5 million, and a FIDE fee of $1.1 million have raised eyebrows in the chess world.

Prominent figures in the chess community, such as IM Levy ‘GothamChess’ Rozman and GM Peter Heine Nielsen, have questioned the budget figures and the allocation of funds. Rozman took to Twitter to express his concerns about the budget allocation and the lack of media deals and sponsorships in chess.

FIDE’s CEO, GM Emil Sutovsky, responded to the criticism, defending the budget figures by stating that the event is not costly compared to other sports events. He emphasized the importance of generating income through top events like the World Championship to reinvest in other projects and promote the game.

The debate has also sparked interest from potential hosts, with the All India Chess Federation (AICF) expressing interest in hosting the match. Discussions with Argentina, India, and Singapore are at an advanced stage, with FIDE expecting multiple bids due to the high level of interest in the match.

The deadline for bids is set for May 31, and FIDE is expected to make a decision in June. Stay tuned as the chess world awaits the announcement of the host for the 2024 World Championship match.