Dev Patel, the newly-elected secretary of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), has announced that India will bid for the hosting rights of the World Chess Championship between defending champion Ding Liren of China and teen sensation D. Gukesh. Gukesh, at just 17 years old, became the youngest ever challenger for the world title by winning the Candidates Tournament in Toronto.
As a former president of the Gujarat Chess Association and a veteran chess administrator, Patel has experience in running top-notch events and understands the intricate requirements of players, parents, coaches, and supporting personnel in the game. He mentioned that Gujarat, as well as traditional chess hubs like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, are potential locations for the event.
Patel’s main goal is to promote chess as a popular sport in India and ensure a successful World Chess Championship. Elected to office just a month ago, he is eager to bring his administrative expertise to develop and promote the game of chess in the country. The dates and venue for the world championship have not yet been finalized but discussions will be held with FIDE on this matter.
