FIDE has revealed the details for the much-anticipated World Chess Championship between the reigning champion D. Gukesh and challenger Javokhir Sindarov. This match is set to be a remarkable milestone, as both players will be just 20 years old when they compete, making it the youngest World Championship match in history.
Gukesh first made headlines in 2024 when he became the youngest world champion by defeating China’s Ding Liren. Sindarov secured his chance for the title by winning this year’s Candidates tournament, impressively earning his spot in the championship.
Viswanathan Anand, the Interim President of FIDE, shared his thoughts on the significance of the match. “A World Championship match is a unique experience in our sport,” he said. “You engage with the same opponent for three weeks, all eyes on you. I’ve played in some incredible venues, and the Fondation Martin Bodmer adds a special character to this historic contest.”
As excitement builds among chess fans, here’s everything you need to know about the World Championship match.
WHERE WILL THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TAKE PLACE?
The championship will be hosted at the Fondation Martin Bodmer, situated in Cologny, Geneva, Switzerland. This location serves as both a museum and a heritage library, boasting a vast collection of around 150,000 documents across approximately 120 languages, making it one of the world’s most prestigious private collections.
WHEN DOES THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP START?
The festivities kick off with an opening ceremony on November 22, while the first classical game is slated for November 24. The championship could conclude on December 11 if all goes well. If the players are tied after the classical games, a tiebreaker will be held on December 12.
WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE MATCH?
The championship can feature up to 14 classical games. Each victory will grant a player one point, and a draw will give each player half a point. The first to reach 7.5 points will be crowned the world champion. If the score is even at 7-7 after all the games, a tiebreaker will determine the winner.
TIME CONTROLS FOR THE MATCH
Players will have two hours to complete their first 40 moves, followed by an additional 30 minutes for the rest of the game. Once they reach move 41, a 30-second increment will be added with each subsequent move. Draw offers will have restrictions as well—players cannot offer a draw until Black has completed 40 moves, and certain conditions must be met to claim a draw before that.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE FOR THE MATCH
- 22 Nov — Media Day; Opening Ceremony
- 23 Nov — Media Day; Technical Meeting
- 24 Nov — Round 1
- 25 Nov — Round 2
- 26 Nov — Round 3
- 27 Nov — Free Day
- 28 Nov — Round 4
- 29 Nov — Round 5
- 30 Nov — Round 6
- 1 Dec — Free Day
- 2 Dec — Round 7
- 3 Dec — Round 8
- 4 Dec — Round 9
- 5 Dec — Free Day
- 6 Dec — Round 10
- 7 Dec — Round 11
- 8 Dec — Round 12
- 9 Dec — Free Day
- 10 Dec — Round 13
- 11 Dec — Round 14
- 12 Dec — Tie-break (if necessary); Closing Ceremony
HOW MUCH IS THE PRIZE MONEY?
The total prize fund for this championship is set at USD 2.5 million. Each player will receive USD 200,000 for every game they win, and any remaining prize money will be evenly distributed between Gukesh and Sindarov after the match wraps up.
This championship promises to be an unforgettable event, showcasing the talents of two young chess prodigies in a historic setting.
