Chess Championship Host Bids: AICF vs Tamil Nadu Government

The World Chess Championship is still months away, but a mini-match is already unfolding in India over host bids. The Tamil Nadu state government and the All India Chess Federation (AICF) have submitted separate bids to Fide, the world chess body, pitching Chennai and Delhi as potential venues for the prestigious event.

The AICF initially planned to name ‘Yashobhoomi’ as the venue for the match in its bid but later revised it to Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the G20 summit in 2023, located in the Pragati Maidan complex in New Delhi. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu submitted its bid for the match on May 29, two days before the AICF’s bid on May 31.

The interest in the match, which will feature reigning world champion Ding Liren and Indian prodigy D Gukesh, is running high in the country. Gukesh, being a rising star in the chess world, is seen as a potential world champion who could break records.

Tamil Nadu, which has previously hosted major chess events, believes it has the right to host the match as Gukesh hails from the state. However, the AICF has raised concerns about not being consulted by the state government before the bid was submitted.

Fide has confirmed receiving a bid from Singapore as well, adding to the competition for hosting rights. The decision now rests with Fide, which has quoted a minimum total budget of $8.5 million for the championship.

The match between an Indian and a Chinese player for the world championship title has added significance given the current political tensions between the two countries. The event is expected to draw global attention and could be a platform for political leaders to showcase their country on an international stage.

Overall, the battle for hosting rights for the World Chess Championship in India has added an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming event, with both Chennai and Delhi vying to be the chosen venue.