"I know there are talks going on to get chess into Olympics" - AICF secretary Dev Patel on India's growth in chess, PM Modi's vision for sport & more

All India Chess Federation (AICF) secretary Dev Patel opened up on the sport's growing popularity, taking it to the Olympics, Global Chess League and much more in a recent exclusive conversation with Sportskeeda.

Dev Patel, who is the youngest person in history to be appointed the AICF secretary at the age of 24, is currently in GIFT City, Gujarat, where the World Junior Chess Championships is underway. Patel sat down for an exclusive chat on the sidelines of the mega event in Gujarat.

This is the first time the World Junior Championships is happening at the GIFT City. When asked about the reason why AICF chose Gujarat as the host, Dev Patel explained:

"So we have a concept that we want to promote how India has been developing, how much progress we have made, and we also wanted to highlight to the big companies and corporates in the city that chess is a very relevant and a fast-developing sport.

"The players and the diversity that we have here is such a huge achievement for us since we are having 230 participants from 46 countries, out of which 50% are foreigners, 50% are Indians. It's a huge event for us, and to showcase it in GIFT city, which is becoming the most developed place in Gujarat. We are proud to host it here," he added.

Talking further about why the organizers chose Gujarat as the host, Dev Patel said that when India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was Gujarat's Chief Minister, he had a vision to include chess in the academics curriculum of school students.

"It's our Prime Minister's dream project. When the Prime Minister was the Chief Minister of the state, he had another vision that chess should become a day-to-day academic curriculum in all schools for children. So keeping all things in mind, we decided on GITY City, Gandhinagar, the great capital of Gujarat," Patel mentioned.

The popularity of chess has increased significantly, which is why many fans have been asking to include it in the Olympics. When asked if the dream of seeing chess at the Olympics will ever come true, Dev Patel replied:

"Yes, it's definitely a dream which we would all love to come true. I know there are talks going on to get chess into the Olympics. We have already become a part of the Asian Games, where the Indian team won the silver medal, and they have done fantastically well. So maybe Olympics as well one day, hopefully not too far."

"We are definitely a formidable force in chess right now" - Dev Patel comments on India's rise in chess

Indian chess has made enormous progress as well in recent years. The fact that four out of the top 10 ranked chess players are from India shows how far the country has progressed in this sport.

Commenting on India's rise in the world of chess, Dev Patel said:

"We are having 85 grandmasters right now, out of which, the newer grandmasters are so young. A 17-year-old Gukesh winning the world candidates and will go on to challenge for the world championship later this year. So, chess is definitely getting young and young.

"Our players are doing a fantastic job. We have four players in the top 10, and India, as a country ranks second in the rating, just behind USA. We are definitely a formidable force in chess right now," he added.

Patel also highlighted how India's young chess star Praggnanandhaa recently defeated Norwegian legend Magnus Carlsen in a game. He said:

"If you see Praggnanandhaa beating Magnus Carlsen in a classical game for the first time ever, so we have so many huge achievements coming every day, it feels like every week. So yeah, I definitely have a bright outlook for Indian chess and our young players."

Lastly, Dev Patel reflected on the Global Chess League, labeling it as a 'fantastic project'. In his view, the league was a big thing for chess, and they can take it to larger audiences in India.

"Global Chess League is a fantastic project, which is doing very well, and I know other leagues are going on in various leagues as well. We have a population of 1.4 billion, a huge base for chess and so many young grandmasters, so definitely, we have to take an Indian approach towards it. It's a big thing definitely," Patel opined.

The World Junior Championships is in the final phase now. The prize giving ceremony will take place tomorrow evening (June 13) at GIFT City in the presence of Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich.