Singapore to Host 2024 World Chess Championship Match

The Singapore Chess Federation, with backing from the Government of Singapore, has successfully secured the bid to host the FIDE World Championship Match in 2024. This prestigious event will see the reigning champion, Ding Liren from China, face off against the challenger, Gukesh D from India. The match is scheduled to take place from November 20 to December 15, 2024.

FIDE, the International Chess Federation, received three strong bids to host the championship: New Delhi (India), Chennai (India), and Singapore. After carefully evaluating the proposals and inspecting the potential host cities for their facilities, amenities, event plans, and opportunities, FIDE chose Singapore as the host city.

“We are thrilled that, for the first time in FIDE’s history, the World Championship Match will be held in Singapore. Singapore is not only a major global tourist and business destination but also a vibrant chess hub with great potential and talent,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

Photo: fairmont.com

Dvorkovich also expressed gratitude to the other bidders, New Delhi and Chennai, acknowledging their rich history of hosting chess events and expressing confidence that these cities will continue to host major chess events in the future.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky added, “We are genuinely excited to bring the FIDE World Championship Match to Singapore. Chess is more than just a game or sport; it represents the human mind’s ability to think strategically, plan, and foresee. Singapore embodies these qualities, making it a perfect match for this prestigious event.”

Sutovsky also mentioned that they expect multinational companies to collaborate with FIDE and Singapore to make the event truly exceptional.

Singapore submitted its bid on May 31, 2024, and the venue inspections took place on June 11 and 12. Four potential venues are being considered, and the final decision on the exact location will be announced soon.

The championship match, which features a substantial prize fund of 2.5 million USD, will be held from November 20 to December 15, 2024.

About the FIDE World Championship Match

The FIDE World Championship Match is one of the most significant and widely viewed chess events in the world. Held every two years, it features the reigning World Champion and a Challenger, who is selected through a qualification process that culminates in the Candidates Tournament, involving eight of the world’s top players.

The current champion, Ding Liren, won the title by defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana, Kazakhstan, in April 2023 through tiebreaks. The challenger, 18-year-old Gukesh D from India, earned his spot by winning the Candidates Tournament in April 2024 in Toronto.

The World Championship Match will consist of 14 games. The first player to score 7.5 points or more will win the match, and no further games will be played. If the score is tied after 14 games, the winner will be determined by a tiebreak.