No one willing to host Carlsen-Anand world title rematch

No one has reportedly come forward to host Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen's world title rematch against Indian chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand that has been scheduled for November 6 after two deadlines have already passed.

The all-time No 1 chess champion Garry Kasparov, who is campaigning to become the next Fide president, has heavily criticised the global chess body for failing to get sponsorships for the rematch.

According to the Guardian, Kasparov has blamed current Fide chief Kirsan Ilyumzhinov for his poor image that has kept the global chess body from finding a sponsor for the match.

The world championship series has become a financial fizz with its 8,00,000-pounds prize fund plus substantial other costs comparing with the modest 1,00,000-pounds for which Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky played in Reykjavik in 1972.

India, who hosted the 2013 chess championship where Anand lost without a single win, is not willing to invest again and Norway, the other prime candidate, is desperately short of funds as it has already committed to the 150-nation team Olympiad at Tromso.

Anand, who is the former World Chess Champion, lost to Carlsen, the current World Chess Champion, during the 2013 World Chess Championship hosted by Chennai, India, the report added.