Google is also making a forceful entrance into the world of chess. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) have just announced that the Mountain View company will be the main sponsor of the match between the Indian Gukesh and the Chinese Ding Liren that will put the world crown at stake. A match, which will take place from November 23 to December 15, 2024, eagerly awaited by the entire chess world due to its current unpredictability. This is no small news. In fact, it is the first time that the World Chess Championship has been sponsored by a company of this size and by a technological leader of this importance. And it is immediately easy to understand how this agreement sets a new standard for the scope and influence of this sport in today’s society as well as underlining the ‘technological’ evolution of the game between apps and platforms, especially if we talk about artificial intelligence. In essence: chess counts more and more, everywhere.
Imon Kahn, Google’s Chief Marketing Officer for Asia Pacific, said, “Google is thrilled to sponsor this historic event. Chess represents a profound intersection of human ingenuity and technological potential, and has always been a testing ground for the development of artificial intelligence. In fact, some of our earliest discoveries in AI were made through the game. With Google Search, YouTube, and AI, we are now excited to enhance the World Championship experience, celebrating the beauty of this game that continues to inspire us.”
As chess continues to grow in popularity globally, FIDE’s partnership with Google also marks a major step forward in the evolution of the sport with the help of modern technology. Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE, explains: “We are thrilled to partner with Google as the title sponsor of the World Championship matches. This is a milestone for our sport. It is a collaboration that takes the competition to the next level, fusing chess tradition with AI innovation. The partnership is set to increase the visibility of the World Chess Championship, bringing the broadcast of the event into a new dimension and attracting new audiences globally.”
The world match
The World Chess Championship is a highly anticipated event for the community of players and enthusiasts because, in three weeks of play, it puts the most coveted and desired title up for grabs. In 2024, the challenge will pit the current title holder, the Chinese Ding Liren, against the 18-year-old Indian Gukesh, an unexpected but ambitious challenger as the country he represents. It will be a balanced match with many unknowns: on one side there is Ding who, after winning the title, had a very problematic period, characterized by a serious illness that affected his mental health in particular; on the other there is the young man from Chennai, pushed by an entire nation, who would like to relive the glories of the Anand era, so far the first and last Indian champion. Gukesh has demonstrated great qualities but has surprised everyone with the way he managed his emotions during the Candidates tournament (which elects the challenger to the throne). Yet we are always talking about a boy born in 2006 who will find himself facing, without experience, the most important challenge of his life.
The outcome is really uncertain and, to have some more details on the form of the two contenders, analysts are waiting to see them play at the Olympics, an event that began yesterday. The city state of Singapore, with the support of Google, promises to bring the match to life like never before, also thanks to the technological innovations of a cutting-edge country. It will be up to the two chess players to provide the most important show, the one on the chessboard.