Once monopolized by Russians, the World Chess Championship has turned into one of sport’s greatest events

Carlsen remains the World No. 1, and he is the planet’s best player across formats. Ding is ranked No. 23 in the world, and Gukesh No. 5.

Chess grandmasters Chinas Ding Liren (L) and Indias Gukesh Dommaraju (R) pose for photographs after a press conference ahead of the FIDE World Chess Championship in Singapore on November 23, 2023. | Photo Credit: AFP

Reykjavik caught the world’s attention in 1972. Iceland’s capital was the venue of the World Chess Championship match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer.

At the height of the Cold War, a rebellious American taking on a Soviet Union player at a time when the erstwhile USSR had a monopoly in producing World champions was indeed news. And the world had never seen a player like Fischer. He was a genius, though a troubled one. Fischer’s triumph and the World title match was a turning point for chess, which became a global sport from what was largely the Soviet Union’s favourite pastime.

Until Fischer came along, the World champions from 1948 until 1972, were all speaking Russian. After Fischer, who chose not to defend his title and had to grapple with mental issues, the World Championship returned to the Soviet Union through Anatoly Karpov and then Garry Kasparov until Viswanathan Anand, in 2000, brought it to India, where chess originated.

The FIDE knock-out World Championship, held in New Delhi and Tehran, may not have been an undisputed one, but nobody dared to call Anand a FIDE World champion, though that had been how some others, such as Alexander Khalifman and Rulson Ponomariamov, were usually referred to. Anand went on to be the undisputed World champion from 2007 till 2013.

Magnus Carlsen ended Anand’s reign, and he was the World champion until he decided not to defend his crown against Ian Nepomniachtchi, and his place in the title match went to Ding Liren, who emerged as the champion last year.

Carlsen remains the World No. 1, and he is the planet’s best player across formats. Ding is ranked No. 23 in the world, and Gukesh No. 5.

So, neither would claim he is the world’s best player after winning the World title in Singapore. That doesn’t make the World Championship any less significant.

Carlsen has made it clear that he doesn’t like the format or the need to prepare for months ahead of a World title match. But, that is also one of the reasons why the World Championship is one of the greatest events and toughest to win in international sport. There isn’t a better way to find out the world’s best chess player. And there have only been 17 World champions since Wilhelm Steinitz became the first in 1886.