Chennai: Defending world champion Viswanathan may be a disappointed man, what with his home town Chennai losing the bid to host the match against challenger Boris Gelfand of Isreal here.
It seemed to be a case of a few dollars more that has left the All India Chess Federation(AICF) red in the face after its Russian counterpart outbid it to host the 2012 World championship, according to AICF.
AICF’s bid of $2.25 million was topped by Russia’s $ 2.55 while the International Chess Federation, in an apparent bid to compensate it has offered Chennai the 2013 title match bids for which will open three months after next year’s match.
Last month, FIDE President Kirsan Illyumzhinov had met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who assured him that the match could be staged here with her government’s support, the total cost being $4.4 million.
It was virtually taken for granted that India’s bid would win. But FIDE received a reportedly revised Russian offer a minute before the July 31 deadline expired.
The development came to light only on Thursday, a full 11 days later, when a newspaper broke the story regarding the change of venue. it also hinted that Indian bid could have been leaked.
The AICF also released a copy of the letter dated August 9 that Illyumzhinov had written to the Chief Minister informing her of the change of venue.
The letter lavished praise on the Chief Minister for her spontaneous offer to host the Anand-Gelfand match, as well as her keen interest in sports. But it said the title match was awarded to Russia after evaluation of the two bids.
FIDE vice-president DA Sundar, in an emailed message said the world governing body had directly offered a title match “for the first time ever” and said the AICF will bid for the 2013 tie only if Anand wins the 2012 title bout against Gelfand. (UNI)