D Gukesh's Olympic Aspirations: FIDE President's Insights
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India, Jan. 18 -- Recently, Arkady Dvorkovich, the president of FIDE, disclosed in an interview that negotiations are underway with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include chess in the Esport category for the upcoming Olympic Esports Games. In a conversation with Chessbase India, the Russian official stated, "We are actively collaborating with the IOC to ensure that chess is featured in the Olympic Esport games. While I cannot confirm the exact timing of these games in 2025, there has been no official announcement yet. However, I am aware that the IOC is coordinating with Saudi Arabia to establish appropriate dates for the event. I remain hopeful that chess will be included."
The inaugural Olympic Esports Games are scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
In a related development, the current world chess champion D Gukesh was recently honored with the esteemed Khel Ratna Award. During a ceremony organized by the All India Chess Federation (AICF), Gukesh expressed his enthusiasm regarding the potential inclusion of chess in the Olympics. India is among the candidates to host the 2036 Olympics.
"I would be thrilled to see chess included in the Olympics, particularly if it takes place in India. The game has been gaining significant popularity and support. I am truly pleased about this, and the Olympics would elevate it to new heights. I am eagerly anticipating this possibility," he remarked.
Gukesh made history in December of the previous year by becoming the youngest world chess champion. He achieved this milestone by defeating the reigning champion Ding Liren at the World Chess Championship held in Singapore. The match culminated in a decisive 14th game, which initially seemed to favor Liren's strategy to push for a tiebreaker. However, a critical error by the Chinese grandmaster on the 55th move led to his resignation, resulting in a surprising defeat for Liren.
In 2025, Gukesh's calendar is filled with competitive engagements. He is currently participating in the Tata Chess tournament in the Netherlands and is set to face Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen next month.
