NEW DELHI: India dangers dropping the chance to host reigning World Chess Champion D Gukesh within the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour as a consequence of a scarcity of investor curiosity. With no confirmed monetary backing, event organizers at the moment are contemplating various venues, TimesofIndia.com has learnt.
In an unique interview with TimesofIndia.com forward of the German leg of the tour, Freestyle Chess co-founder Jan Henric Beuttner has hinted that India could possibly be dropped from the event calendar for the 2025 version.
At present, the official web site lists New Delhi because the host metropolis for the fourth and penultimate leg of the tour. Nonetheless, Beuttner has made it clear that until an appropriate investor from India steps ahead quickly, the venue shall be modified.
“Delhi is the one event we’ve not finalised but as a result of we’re receiving affords from different cities. They’re providing internet hosting charges. If we get a seven or eight-figure supply from one other location, after all, we’ll go there,” Beuttner mentioned.
The 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour is about to start on February 7 in Weissenhaus, Germany, the place the world’s high ten chess gamers, together with World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana and Gukesh, will compete subsequent week.
Following the German leg (February 7-14), the tour will transfer to Paris (April 8-15), New York (July 17-24), after which — at the moment — New Delhi (September 17-24), earlier than concluding in Cape City (December 5-12).
TimesofIndia.com understands that FIDE and Freestyle Chess are in discussions to probably flip the September leg of the tour into an open event.
When requested why India stays listed because the host for the fourth leg, Beuttner defined, “We have stored it as a placeholder till we safe an alternate venue.”
He additionally revealed that he had reached out to Indian enterprise tycoon Anand Mahindra for potential assist. “I personally spoke to Anand Mahindra in London, however his focus is on the World Chess League, and he is not at the moment excited about different chess ventures,” added the German.
Because the reigning World Chess Champion, Gukesh, 18, is the one participant assured participation throughout all venues through the tour.
The remainder of the event roster will see some adjustments all year long, with gamers qualifying by means of ELO rankings, wildcard entries, and direct invites, making it one of the crucial attention-grabbing competitions of the 12 months.
