India Eyes 2024 World Chess Championship Hosting with Gukesh and Vaishali Leading Bid

Summary – India aims to host the 2024 World Chess Championship, featuring top players D Gukesh and R Vaishali in action.,

Article –

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) is actively pursuing the opportunity to host the 2024 World Chess Championship in India. Despite not being selected earlier this year, the federation is submitting bids and lobbying FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) to bring the prestigious event to the country. This move is propelled by the rising success of India’s top chess talents, D Gukesh and R Vaishali, who have been making significant strides internationally.

What Happened?

Earlier in the year, India missed out on securing the hosting rights for the 2024 World Chess Championship, disappointing the Indian chess community. However, the AICF remains determined and is now actively working to reverse this outcome through formal bids and strong advocacy. The surge in India’s chess popularity, fueled by promising grandmasters like Gukesh and Vaishali, supports the country’s ambitions to host the event.

Profiles of Gukesh and Vaishali

• D Gukesh: India’s youngest grandmaster and one of the fastest-rising stars globally, ranked among the top 30 players worldwide as of 2026, with multiple international tournament wins.
• R Vaishali: A prominent grandmaster and prodigy in women’s chess, rated among the top female players worldwide, recently achieving a podium finish at the Women’s Chess World Cup.

Key Numbers and Bid Strength

FIDE’s selection process for hosting the World Chess Championship involves assessing bids based on several criteria:

1. Infrastructure: India’s extensive network of chess academies and venues.
2. Funding: Increasing sponsorships backing chess activities.
3. Community Engagement: Growing fan base and chess participation nationwide.

These factors together create a compelling case for India’s bid to host the championship.

Locker-Room Reactions

At a recent press conference, the AICF President expressed a strong commitment to ensuring a successful event:

“We are fully prepared to host the World Chess Championship and will provide all necessary support to make it a landmark event. The rise of players like Gukesh and Vaishali demonstrates our country’s growing stature in the chess world.”

D Gukesh shared his enthusiasm about competing on home ground:

“It would be an incredible motivation and honor to compete in front of Indian fans. Hosting such an event here will inspire millions of aspiring players.”

R Vaishali added her perspective:

“India is becoming a powerhouse in chess, and hosting the World Championship will underline this progress.”

What Comes Next?

The Chess Federation plans to submit its formal bid to FIDE by mid-2026, with FIDE’s decision expected by late 2026. Should the bid succeed, India will prepare to host the championship later in the year, potentially boosting the sport’s national infrastructure and popularity. Meanwhile, both Gukesh and Vaishali will continue competing internationally, aiming to secure top rankings and showcase India’s world-class chess talent on home turf.

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Bhavya

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