FIDE’s Changes in Regulations for World Championship Match Raise Questions

FIDE’s Changes in World Chess Championship Regulations Raise Questions

In a surprising move, FIDE, the governing body of chess, has made significant changes to the regulations of the upcoming World Championship match between reigning champion Ding Liren of China and challenger D Gukesh of India. The 14-game classical match, scheduled to take place in Singapore from Nov 25 to Dec 13, will now have a total prize fund of $2.5 million.

However, the distribution of the prize money has raised eyebrows among chess enthusiasts. Instead of the usual 60% going to the winner and 40% to the losing finalist, FIDE has decided to award $200,000 for each game won in the 14-game match, with the remaining amount being distributed equally between the two players.

The catch lies in the fact that a 2-0 win or a victory by a two-point margin will actually earn less prize money for the winner, with a 2-0 win resulting in $1.45 million instead of the expected $1.5 million. This has led to questions about the logic behind the new distribution system and whether it truly rewards decisive results.

FIDE has acknowledged the increasing difficulty of scoring wins in the classical phase of matches, citing advanced computer-aided preparations as a contributing factor. As a result, they have increased the number of classical matches from 12 to 14 in an attempt to encourage more decisive outcomes.

Another significant change is the alteration of the time control for the matches. While previous matches had longer time limits, this year’s games will be shorter, with only 30 minutes allotted for the rest of the moves after the first 40 moves.

These changes have sparked debate within the chess community, with some questioning the effectiveness of the new regulations in promoting exciting and competitive play. As the World Championship match approaches, all eyes will be on Ding Liren and D Gukesh as they battle it out under the revised rules.