Geneva to host 2024 World Chess Championship between Gukesh D. and Sindarov

Geneva has been selected as the host city for the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship. The highly anticipated match will pit the reigning world champion, India's Gukesh Dommaraju, against challenger Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan. The championship is scheduled to run from November 25 to December 15.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced the decision on Tuesday. This follows the 2024 championship held in Singapore, where 18-year-old Gukesh D. became the youngest world champion in history by defeating China's Ding Liren.

India, the United States, and Cyprus had also vied for the hosting rights. However, FIDE opted for Geneva, citing its status as "neutral territory and a city with a long tradition of bringing nations and cultures together," according to a FIDE statement. This championship will feature the youngest finalists ever, with both Gukesh and Sindarov being 20 years old.

The World Championship match will consist of fourteen classical games, with the first player to reach 7.5 points claiming the title. Tie-breaks will be used to decide the champion in case of a draw. Sindarov secured his spot in the final by winning the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus in April.

Switzerland has a history of hosting FIDE events, including the 1998 World Championship in Lausanne. Viswanathan Anand, the current interim FIDE president, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We look forward to welcoming the global chess community to Switzerland. Local fans will have the opportunity to enjoy top-level chess in person, while millions worldwide can follow the battle online for the ultimate chess title."