The All India Chess Federation (AICF) is poised to decide the host city for the upcoming FIDE World Chess Championship, with a fierce competition brewing between Chennai, Delhi, and Singapore. Both Chennai and Delhi have submitted bids to secure the hosting rights, adding to the excitement. While Chennai boasts the backing of the Tamil Nadu government, Delhi has emerged as the AICF’s preferred choice. This preference is likely influenced by the fact that Chennai already hosted the 2022 Chess Olympiad and the 2013 World Championship, where Indian GM Viswanathan Anand faced off against Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
The AICF is eager to select a single venue from India to ensure clarity and avoid any potential logistical complications. A federation official confirmed that both Chennai and Delhi have successfully met all the prescribed guidelines and passed the recent FIDE inspection with satisfactory results. However, the official added that having two bids from the same country might not be ideal. Therefore, the AICF is expected to finalize a single city from India before the final decision is made between Singapore and the chosen Indian venue.
The upcoming meeting, scheduled for Saturday, June 29th in Delhi, will involve 66 general body members representing each state association. This gathering will focus on finalizing the Indian host city, with the power to make the final decision resting with the 15-member Central Council. The 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, set for September, is the next major event on the chess calendar, preceding the World Championships. Both challenger D Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren are anticipated to participate in this prestigious event.
