AICF to work on matching Bulgarian bid

It's nearly nine months to go for the World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and the Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, and it seems Bulgaria has already stolen a march in mindgames.

The issue in question is that of hosting the April 2010 title bout. India is mulling a much-belated, last-ditch attempt even as Bulgaria is believed to have found enough sponsors to present a good bid.

Furthermore, with Bulgaria throwing in political might in good measure with their Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, a self-confessed chess lover, backing the bid, the chances of Anand playing a World championship final at home for the first time appear remote.

With the world champ himself expressing his keenness to take on Topalov at home, and the All India Chess Federation (AICF) only now awakening to the possibility, the mood in Sofia is upbeat with reports suggesting that the projected bid from the Bulgarian capital as host has found no opposition either from India or elsewhere.

From The Times of India