Former union sports minister

Former Union Sports Minister: Former Union Sports Minister and Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur made a special appearance at the FIDE World Cup 2025 here on Tuesday and praised the All India Chess Federation for not just hosting the event in the country after two decades but also for the initiatives it has taken over the years to make India a global chess superpower.

Thakur, himself an able sports administrator who once headed the BCCI, made the ceremonial first move in the quarterfinal match between Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Wei Yi of China.

Speaking to media on the side lines of the World Cup, Thakur said, “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. It’s not a trophy for the coming decades but it’s a trophy for the centuries to come.”