The World Chess Championship match between Gukesh and Ding Liren is set to take place in Singapore in November-December this year, as announced by FIDE on Monday. The 18-year-old challenger from India, Gukesh, will face reigning world champion Ding Liren in a historic battle for the title of youngest world champion. The match is scheduled to be played between November 20 and December 15, 2024.
Gukesh made history by becoming the youngest player at the age of 17 to win the eight-player Candidates tournament, earning him the right to challenge Ding for the championship. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich expressed his excitement about hosting the event in Singapore, highlighting the city’s status as a global tourist and business hub, as well as a thriving chess center with great potential and talent.
The decision to host the World Championship match in Singapore came after a selection process that also involved New Delhi and Chennai. Factors considered by the 15-member FIDE Council included neutrality, which could have favored Singapore due to Gukesh’s potential home advantage in the other cities. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky explained that while neutrality was important, other factors like guaranteed revenue and promotional opportunities for the game were also taken into account in the decision-making process.