No takers for Anand, Carlsen title rematch?
Archiman Bhaduri
TNN | May 3, 2014, 10.18 AM IST
KOLKATA: Even as the global chess fraternity eagerly awaits the rematch between world champion Magnus Carlsen and challenger Viswanathan Anand for the world title this November, Fide, the world chess body, is struggling to find a host for the match.
Fide had initially set March 10, 2014, as the deadline for submitting bids to stage the World Championship match. No bidders surfaced, so the deadline was extended to April 30. Even then, there were no takers for the duel.
“Fide has not received any bid by the deadline of 1300 GMT of April 30th, 2014. A further announcement will be made in due course,” Fide posted on its website on Wednesday, just after the deadline ended.
When the deadline was extended in March, Fide executive director Nigel Freeman told a Norwegian newspaper that “there have been no bids since there are probably many who (wanted to) wait and see how the Candidates’ Tournament goes, and if one of their players will play the World Championship match.”
But despite a clear picture emerging with five-time world champion Anand winning the Candidates meet this time, the response remained negative.
“FIDE is currently examining all possible solutions, including (another) extension of the deadline or direct negotiations with organizers of the contesting duo.
“It is a situation which has occurred in the past with other World Championship events and were positively resolved,” Freeman told TOI on Friday.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Well, perhaps Mr. Sinquefield can bring the World Championship to the US! The Sinquefield Cup was a success and having the World Championship back after nearly 20 years (1995) would be great. Also, how extraordinary that Anand was the challenger in both 1995 (vs Kasparov) and 2014 (vs Carlsen). What an amazing career for Vishy!