Moscow to Host World Chess Championship in 2012

August 10, 2011

Moscow will be the new host city to host the World Chess Championship Match in 2012 after FIDE, the governing body of world chess, ruled in favour Moscow ahead of Chennai.

There is a positive that has come out of this though. Should Anand successfully defend his title, then Chennai will get first right of refusal “to make a proposal for the organization of the World Chess Championship Match 2013”.

The match will be held next May in Skolkovo, Moscow, Russia and offers India’s Vishwanthanan Anand and challenger Boris Gelfand from Israel a prize fund of $ 2,550,000.

Following the evaluation of the bids from the two cities and the recommendations by the World Championship and Olympiad Commission, Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE) awarded the organization of the match to the Russian Chess Federation.

A statement issued by FIDE reads: “FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed his gratitude also to the All India Chess Federation who worked very hard to put in a very competitive bid with the support of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

“In view of the commitment shown by the AICF and the appreciation of FIDE towards the development of chess in India, the AICF would be given a first option of three months following the match in Moscow, to make a proposal for the organization of the World Chess Championship Match 2013.”