On April 25, Dev Patel, the newly-elected secretary of the All India Chess Federation (AICF), announced that India will bid to host the much-anticipated World Championship clash between teen sensation D Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren of China this year. Gukesh, 17, earned the title of youngest ever challenger for the world championship by winning the Candidates Tournament in Toronto.
Patel expressed openness to discussions with FIDE, the apex chess body, and is confident that India can host the best world championship. He emphasized that his primary goal is to promote chess as a popular sport in the country. With his experience as the youngest AICF secretary and knowledge of player requirements, Patel acknowledges the efforts needed from parents, coaches, and supporters to nurture chess talents like Gukesh.
Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are potential host states for the championship scheduled for the last quarter of the year. Patel plans to contact FIDE about the bid on Friday. He believes that by hosting