Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand said the world chess championship could be staged in Chennai if R Praggnanandhaa wins the Candidates Tournament and earns a shot at defending champion D Gukesh in what he described as an emotionally charged contest. The 20-year-old Praggnanandhaa is among eight players competing in the Candidates Tournament in March–April for the right to challenge Gukesh, 19. “…whoever wins the candidates… they will experience a kind of growth and will be dangerous in the World Championship. In 2000, Delhi had also hosted the world championship when Anand played against Spain's Alexei Shirov. The dates and venue for the world championship are still to be announced.

Source: The Telegraph January 16, 2026 09:46 UTC