Expo 2020 Dubai to host FIDE World Chess Championship

The next FIDE World Chess Championship will be held at Expo 2020 Dubai, promising an enthralling contest that will delight chess fans and the wider public alike.

Organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the postponed 2020 championship will now take place from November 24-December 16, 2021.

It will see the reigning world champion, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, defend his title against the winner of the delayed Candidates Tournament, which is due to conclude in Ekaterinburg, Russia, in April.

The two players will compete for a prize fund of EUR 2 million (AED 9 million).

"A World Championship match is an outstanding event, and we are proud to team up with Expo 2020 to create a breath-taking experience not only for the hard-core chess fans, but also for a wider audience," said Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President.

Mohamed AlAnsaari, Vice President – Communications, Expo 2020 Dubai, added: "Just as chess unites people of all ages and backgrounds from across the globe, and encourages strategic thinking and problem solving, Expo 2020 will also bring the world together to build bridges and inspire solutions to some of the most pressing shared challenges of our time."

The FIDE World Chess Championship will take place at the state-of-the-art Dubai Exhibition Centre, co-located at Expo 2020, where the title of best chess player on the planet will be determined in a 14-game face-off between the two finalists.

The match will be broadcast around the world, and the Championship will include a series of side events, including exhibition matches and appearances by former champions and celebrity fans.

Spain will also host the final of the World Online School Chess Tournament at Expo 2020 Dubai, aiming to promote the educational power of chess in line with the Spain Pavilion’s theme of ‘Intelligence for Life’.