Viswanathan Anand, FIDE Deputy President and five-time World Chess Champion, updates the bid to include chess in the Olympics, citing Garry Kasparov as a factor in the delay.
What's the current status?
The World Chess Federation has been working closely with the IOC to make chess an Olympic sport, with Anand stating they are "kind of close".
Viswanathan Anand is still an active top-20 player in the chess rankings, giving him a unique perspective on the sport's potential.
Why the delay?
Anand blames the Professional Chess Association, co-founded by Garry Kasparov, for the delay, as it created chaos in the chess world with two rival federations.
The IOC has multiple criteria for including a new sport, and chess must meet these requirements to be considered.
What comes next?
Viswanathan Anand hopes that chess will be included in the esports Olympics or the main Olympics, citing its success in the Asian Games and other global events.
India has seen a massive chess boom, with D Gukesh as the reigning World Champion and other Indian players, such as Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, in the top-ten rankings.
The recognition of FIDE by the IOC in 1999 is a significant step towards chess's Olympic inclusion, according to Anand.
How does this impact Viswanathan Anand?
As FIDE Deputy President, Viswanathan Anand is actively working to promote chess and make it an Olympic sport, which would be a major achievement for the sport.
Anand's experience as a player and administrator gives him a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing chess, as seen in his comments to TV9 Telugu.
The growth of chess in India, with players like D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, is a testament to the sport's increasing popularity, and Anand is optimistic about its future.