New Delhi— Former Union Sports Minister and Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur made a notable appearance at the FIDE World Cup 2025 on Tuesday, commending the All India Chess Federation (AICF) for its role in bringing the prestigious tournament back to India after 20 years and for its wider push to establish the country as a global chess force.
Thakur, who has also served as BCCI president and remains a prominent sports administrator, performed the ceremonial first move in the high-stakes quarterfinal clash between India’s Arjun Erigaisi and China’s Wei Yi. The match drew significant attention, symbolising the new era of intense India–China rivalry in chess.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Thakur called the moment “historic,” not just because of India regaining hosting rights after two decades but also due to the tournament’s deeper national significance.
“This is a historic moment not only because we are hosting the World Cup after two decades but also because the trophy is now named after Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand,” Thakur said. “It’s not a trophy for the coming decades but a trophy for the centuries to come.”
The renaming honours Anand, who won the first two editions of the World Cup in 2000 and 2002, and has served as the face of Indian chess for over 30 years. His legacy now inspires a new generation of prodigies who have propelled India to the forefront of world chess. In recent years, India has celebrated double Olympiad gold in both the Open and Women’s categories and witnessed Gukesh Dommaraju become world champion in 2024, echoing Anand’s historic success.
Thakur credited the AICF under its president Nitin Narang for this rise, highlighting structural changes and long-term investment as key factors behind India’s progress. Among the major reforms, he emphasised the federation’s initiative to provide annual grants to 42 promising players, enabling them to train, travel, and compete internationally without financial constraints.
“I think the biggest step taken by the All India Chess Federation in the last two years is providing annual grants to 42 players,” he said. Thakur added that the AICF’s collaborative and inclusive approach to developing the sport should serve as a model for other national federations.
He also linked the momentum in Indian chess to broader national sporting ambitions, pointing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge to host the 2036 Olympics. Thakur noted that federations capable of organizing major international tournaments contribute significantly to India’s readiness to bid for and host mega global sporting events.
With India emerging as one of the strongest chess nations and the World Cup returning to its soil, Thakur’s remarks underscored both pride in the country’s achievements and optimism for its future on the world sporting stage.
