Vishy Anand Teases Epic Chennai Homecoming for World Chess Championship
India might finally host the prestigious World Chess Championship later this year. Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand dropped this exciting possibility during the Jaipur Literature Festival on Friday. He specifically mentioned Chennai as the potential venue if young Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa qualifies through the upcoming Candidates tournament.
Emotional Homecoming for Chennai Stars
Anand explained why this scenario would create a special atmosphere. Both current world champion Gukesh and challenger Praggnanandhaa hail from Chennai. They share the same training background and chess school. "It will not be a normal match," Anand emphasized. "It may even happen in Chennai. The reaction of everyone around them will be very emotionally charged."
The chess legend believes Praggnanandhaa would become particularly dangerous if he wins the Candidates tournament. "Whoever wins the Candidates will experience a kind of growth," Anand noted. "They will be dangerous in the World Championship." He added that the emotional energy would likely balance out since both players share the same Chennai roots.
Praggnanandhaa's Challenging Path
The 20-year-old Praggnanandhaa faces formidable competition at the Candidates tournament scheduled for March-April this year. Seven elite players stand between him and a world championship shot:
- Fabiano Caruana (USA)
- Hikaru Nakamura (USA)
- Anish Giri (Netherlands)
- Wei Yi (China)
- Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan)
- Andrey Esipenko (Russia)
- Matthias Blubaum (Germany)
Anand analyzed the different dynamics these opponents would bring. "With the American players, Caruana and Nakamura, there are several plots here," he observed. "Those guys will try to play mind games. They're much older." He contrasted this with other potential qualifiers who might create less emotional tension.
Chennai's World Championship History
Chennai already boasts significant world championship history. The city hosted the 2013 World Chess Championship when Anand defended his title against a young Magnus Carlsen. That memorable event marked Carlsen's first world championship victory. He eventually collected five world titles during his dominant reign.
India came close to hosting the championship two years ago with bids from both New Delhi and Chennai. Neither city secured the event at that time. Anand's current position as Deputy President at FIDE, chess's global governing body, gives his comments particular weight regarding potential hosting decisions.
The chess community now watches the Candidates tournament with heightened interest. A Praggnanandhaa victory could trigger an unprecedented all-Chennai world championship showdown in their home city. This would represent a full-circle moment for Indian chess, coming more than a decade after Chennai's last world championship hosting experience.
