World Chess Championship 2024: Schedule, Venue, Players - All you need to know

The World Chess Championship 2024 is set to be a historic event, featuring a clash between India's D. Gukesh and China's Ding Liren. This championship will take place from November 25 to December 13, 2024, at the luxurious Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

As the youngest challenger in history, Gukesh aims to dethrone the reigning champion Ding Liren, making this match a highly anticipated showdown.

Preview

This championship marks a significant moment in chess history as it features two Asian players competing for the world title for the first time. Gukesh, at just 18 years old, has already made headlines by becoming the youngest winner of the Candidates Tournament, earning his shot at the world title. Ding Liren, aged 32 and a seasoned competitor, will defend his title against the rising star.

Both players have shown exceptional skill in their careers thus far, with Gukesh's aggressive style contrasting with Ding's strategic approach. Analysts predict a closely contested match, with many grandmasters favoring Gukesh due to his recent form and youthful energy.

Format and Rules

The championship follows a classical format where the first player to reach 7.5 points wins the title. If the score is tied after all games, tie-breaks will determine the champion. The rules for tie-breaks include:

Rapid Match: Four games with a time control of 15 minutes per side, plus a 10-second increment.
Mini Rapid Match (if tied): Two games with a time control of 10 minutes per side, plus a 5-second increment.
Blitz Match (if still tied): Two games with a time control of 3 minutes per side, plus a 2-second increment.
Sudden Death Blitz (if still tied): A series of single blitz games until one player wins.

Each classical game follows a time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by an additional 30 minutes for the remainder, with a 30-second increment starting from move 41.

Prize Money

The total prize fund for the championship is set at an impressive $2.5 million, with each player earning approximately $200,000 for every game they win. The prize distribution for tie-break scenarios awards the winner $1.3 million and the runner-up $1.2 million.

Head-to-Head Records

As this is their first encounter in a World Championship setting, there are no previous head-to-head records between Gukesh and Ding Liren in this context. However, both players have faced numerous opponents worldwide, showcasing their capabilities and resilience on various platforms.

In conclusion, the World Chess Championship 2024 promises to be an exhilarating event that not only highlights individual brilliance but also represents a milestone in chess history as two young talents vie for the prestigious title. Fans around the globe eagerly await this monumental clash starting November 25th.

Schedule

The championship will unfold over three weeks, comprising 14 games with specific rest days. Here’s the complete schedule:

Game 1: November 25
Game 2: November 26
Game 3: November 27
Rest Day: November 28
Game 4: November 29
Game 5: November 30
Game 6: December 1
Rest Day: December 2
Game 7: December 3
Game 8: December 4
Game 9: December 5
Rest Day: December 6
Game 10: December 7
Game 11: December 8
Game 12: December 9
Rest Day: December 10
Game 13: December 11
Game 14: December 12
Tie-breaks (if needed): December 13

All games will commence at 2:30 PM IST (17:00 local time).

Live Streaming

Fans can catch all the action live through various platforms. The matches will be streamed on FIDE's official social media channels, including YouTube and Twitch, as well as on Chess.com. Comprehensive coverage will also be available through match blogs and commentary on sports news websites.