By David Llada

One of the longest-living traditions in the world of sports,
the World Chess Championship, is set to commence next weekend, and for the first time in its long history, it will be an all-Asian affair. A Chinese Champion, Ding Liren, will take on an India Challenger, Gukesh Dommaraju, with Singapore's iconic skyline as the backdrop.

The match will be played to the best of 14 games, from November 25 to December 14, with $2.5 million at stake.

In this first article about the match, we will discuss the host city, which surprised many, myself included. Not only was Singapore not in the cards, but there were widespread rumors that Saudi Arabia had been keen to host this match which aligned with the country's broader strategy of attracting global sports, from golf and tennis to top football players.

These promising prospects were likely what encouraged FIDE to raise the bidding requirements for this event, setting a minimum prize fund of $2.5 million (up from $2 million in the previous edition) and increasing its own fee (the money that FIDE receives from the local organizer) to a minimum $1.1 million. The line-up for the Candidates Tournament also fueled optimism: three Indian players and two Americans almost assured a substantial bid from their countries in the event of a victory. Other Candidates, such as Alireza and Nijat, wouldn't be without backers either. Surely a good move by FIDE!

In the end, Singapore stepped in, along with Delhi and Chennai. The "Lion City" is the most advanced economy in the region and, in recent years, has surpassed Hong Kong as Asia's top financial center, ranking third in the world only behind New York and London. So, the "financial muscle" to set this project into motion was not a problem.

When it comes to chess, what Singapore lacks in tradition, it more than makes up for in potential. A key figure in this development has been Goh Wei Ming, the third Grandmaster in the country's history and a eight-time national champion. Beyond his chess achievements, he is a former Chief Financial Officer of the oncology company Lucence. His involvement as CEO of the Singapore Chess Federation - and now Chair of the Organizing Committee - was pivotal in professionalizing the Federation and securing Google Asia's support for Singapore's bid. The involvement of this technology giant not only provided the necessary funds to make this match possible but also promises unprecedented coverage for the sport.

Here, I should pause to make a full disclosure: I will be in Singapore at the invitation of the Singapore Chess Federation to join their team —primarily as a photographer, if I can still figure out where the shutter on my camera is after a year away from the scene. The plan was not only to organize a top-level match but also to bring a large number of influencers and content creators to Singapore to enhance the match's coverage and help place the city-state in the global spotlight. The organizers have graciously agreed to my keeping this diary for ICC.

I am thrilled about this opportunity. This will be my ninth World Championship, but my first visit to Singapore. The "Lion City" may be a tiny island nation, smaller in size than many cities around the world, but its rich culture, diversity, vibrant food scene, and excellent infrastructure have earned it global acclaim, which I can't wait to experience. The match will be held at Resorts World Sentosa, a separate island off Singapore's southern coast, connected to the city by cable car, road, monorail, and even a pedestrian boardwalk. I plan to try out each of these options!