India keen to host Gukesh-Ding World Chess Championship match

India is likely to bid for the World Chess Championship match between D Gukesh and Ding Liren, tentatively scheduled to take place in November this year. Gukesh became the youngest-ever Candidates winner in Toronto last weekend, earning the right to challenge reigning world champion Ding Liren.

D Gukesh and Ding Liren at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament (Getty )

The 17-year-old returned to his home city, Chennai, in the wee hours of Thursday to a rousing welcome. Kids from his school, Velammal Vidyalaya, showed up at Chennai International Airport at 3 am in their uniforms wearing Gukesh-face masks and carrying placards shaped like chessboards. Amid the crowds and pandemonium, Gukesh spotted his mother Padma and went over to give her a quick hug as she planted a kiss on his cheeks.

An Indian challenger sets the stage for the country to host the match for the first time in 11 years. In 2013, Chennai was the venue for the match between defending champion Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, which the Indian lost.