FIDE makes move,Chennai it is

The agreement confirming Chennai as the host city was signed today at Baku by Bharat Singh,Hony Secretary All India Chess Federation and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, a press release from the All India Chess Federation read. FIDE vice president Ali Nihat Yazici confirmed Chennai as the venue on Twitter.

Home advantage?

While Carlsen is considered by many to be the favourite against Anand,the match being played in Chennai changes the dynamics a bit. Home advantage traditionally counts for little in chess,and Anand himself has defended his titles in the home patch of the contender against Veselin Topalov in Sofia,2010 and neutral grounds Vladimir Kramnik,Bonn 2008 and Boris Gelfand,Moscow 2012. However,Carlsens minders have repeatedly suggested that playing the final in a part of the world that the Norwegian has never been to before would put him at a disadvantage,raising concerns about Chennais weather and food. There is also the fact that Anand would be playing in his hometown.

On the board though,Carsens form has been close to perfect of late. Over the last 16 months,from the beginning of 2012,the Norwegian has lost just twice,going on to win six of the seven classical tournaments he participated in,finishing second in the other. Anand has by and large struggled of late,with just two wins in 2012,but his results have looked up this year. He won outright at Grenke to pick up his first classical tournament title in close to five years.

That said,the final will be played in match format where Anand has proved difficult to overcome. Since becoming the undisputed World Champion in 2007,he has defended the title thrice,despite an indifferent tournament run in that time. Whether playing the final at home will only put added pressure on Anand or if it will prove an advantage as Carlsen fears,remains to be seen.

Chennai had earlier bid for the champions 2012 final against Boris Gelfand,but in a late development,Moscow had come up with a bigger bid to land the final. FIDE,in appreciation of Chennais effort,had given the city and the Indian federation the first rights to host the 2013 final,something that did not sit well with Carlsen. Espen Agdestein,the Norwegians agent,had said that opening up the bidding process would ensure the venue was decided in a fair and transparent manner,while Carlsens father Henrik had also suggested that Carlsen would be at a disadvantage playing in non-neutral territory.

Carlsen disappointed

Once the decision was made though,it was accepted with some amount of resignation by the Norwegians camp. Speaking to VG,a Norwegian website,Agdestein had said it was a shame that their efforts in rallying support for a renewed bid and ensuring a transparent process had come to nought and that he was surprised and disappointed with FIDEs decision. Agdestein said though,that there was not much we can do about it.

He also conceded that hosting the final in Chennai would put Carlsen at a disadvantage,though he said that Carlsens minders did not question Chennais ability to host the high-profile event. There is no reason to believe that Chennai would be a bad organizer. There is of course a disadvantage for Magnus to play on foreign ground. He has never played in that part of the world,and you have the risk of disease and that type of thing. It will also be home to Anand. Anyway,Chennai will probably put all their glory in a great and big event, said Agdestein to the website.