In a press conference held on April 25, Dev Patel, the newly-elected secretary of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), announced that India will bid to host the highly anticipated World Championship clash between teenage sensation D Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren of China this year. Gukesh, at just 17 years old, earned the title of youngest ever challenger for the world championship after winning the Candidates Tournament in Toronto. The dates and venue for the championship, scheduled for the last quarter of the year, are still being finalized.
Patel expressed his openness to discussions with FIDE, the governing body of chess, and is confident that India can host the best possible World Championship. He emphasized that his primary goal as secretary is to promote chess as a popular sport in India. To achieve this goal, Patel plans to contact FIDE about the bid on Friday and mentioned that Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are potential host states.
With his experience as AICF’s youngest secretary and knowledge of player requirements, Patel understands the efforts needed from parents, coaches, and supporters to nurture chess talents like Gukesh. He believes that by hosting the world championship, chess will emerge as a victor in India. Patel was elected to office last month and is determined to elevate chess in India.
