Delhi, Chennai, and Singapore in Race to Host World Championship Match: FIDE CEO
Delhi, Chennai, and Singapore in Race to Host World Chess Championship Match
Delhi has thrown its hat into the ring to host the World Championship match between D. Gukesh and China’s Ding Liren, joining Chennai and Singapore in the race. The All India Chess Federation has backed Delhi’s bid, accusing the Tamil Nadu government of acting unilaterally by pushing Chennai’s name.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) CEO Emil Sutovsky confirmed that all three cities have submitted their bids and meet the criteria. Chennai was the first to bid for the match scheduled for November-December this year, followed by Singapore and then New Delhi.
The FIDE Council will discuss the bids and announce the winner later this month. Sutovsky mentioned that representatives of the bidders will be invited to share details and answer questions, with the final decision expected in June.
The bid for Chennai was made by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, while the All Indian Chess Federation bid for New Delhi. It is unusual for two entities from the same country to bid for the tournament, but FIDE does not prohibit it.
AICF president Nitin Narang stated that the national chess federation has secured a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Indian government for New Delhi’s bid. However, he criticized the Tamil Nadu government for not consulting AICF before submitting its bid for Chennai.
Gukesh, the youngest ever challenger for the world title, hails from Chennai and won the Candidates Tournament in April. The basic criteria outlined by FIDE for the 2024 edition include a budget of Rs 8.5 million and a facilitation fee of USD 1.1 million.
India has previously hosted the World Championship in 2000 and 2013, with Viswanathan Anand winning in 2000 and losing to Magnus Carlsen in 2013. The total prize money for the upcoming tournament is expected to be around USD 2.5 million.
The decision on the host city for the World Championship match is eagerly awaited by chess enthusiasts around the world. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting development in the world of chess.