The Salesforce FIDE World Championship Match arrives in Geneva this November, pitting Gukesh Dommaraju against Javokhir Sindarov in a three-week battle for the world title. The event runs from 22 November through 12 December and promises to draw the chess world's attention. But organizers have planned far more than just the championship games themselves.
A robust program of side activities will run throughout the tournament, giving spectators multiple ways to engage with the game and its top players. Elite grandmasters, including several former world champions, will be present to interact with fans and compete in special events. These opportunities represent a rare chance to meet some of chess's most celebrated figures.
Viswanathan Anand will open the activity calendar on 24 November with a presentation featuring memories and insights from his own championship experiences. Swiss grandmasters Alexandra Kosteniuk and Yannick Pelletier will organize various activities across the event, including a fan blitz session by Pelletier during Game 3 and an audience challenge led by Kosteniuk during Game 1.
Game 4 will feature a tandem simultaneous exhibition pairing grandmasters Anna Muzychuk and Anish Giri. Muzychuk, one of the few women to achieve a rating above 2600, will face multiple opponents alongside Giri. Both players will return for additional events on other days throughout the championship.
Fans interested in participating should register early, as many activities have limited spots and require advance booking. Details and registration information are available through the official FIDE ticketing system, and organizers recommend bookmarking the side events calendar as new activities may be added.