In a recent announcement, the newly-elected All India Chess Federation (AICF) secretary, Dev Patel, revealed that India will bid for the hosting rights of the highly anticipated World Championship clash between teen sensation D Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren of China. Gukesh, who is just 17 years old, made history by becoming the youngest ever challenger for the world title after winning the Candidates Tournament in Toronto. The exact dates and venue for the world championship, which is set to take place in the last quarter of the year, are yet to be confirmed.
Patel, who leads the Gujarat Chess Association and is 24 years old, expressed his confidence in India’s ability to host the championship. He emphasized that making chess a popular sport in the country was crucial and mentioned that discussions with FIDE, the international chess organization, were ongoing. The potential host states include Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
With his extensive experience in chess administration, Patel understands what it takes to support talented players like Gukesh. He acknowledged that chess would benefit greatly from such initiatives and highlighted the dedication and effort required to nurture young talent at a grassroots level. Patel took office last month and is determined to promote chess at all levels while advancing its growth as a sport.
