Betting on the FIDE World Chess Championship Online

Way back in 1886, Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort squared off in what’s now recognised as the very first world title match. Steinitz came out on top, becoming the inaugural king of chess. Up until 1946, whoever held the crown pretty much set their own rules—meaning challengers often had to cough up serious cash to even get a shot at the throne.

When reigning champ Alexander Alekhine passed away in 1946, FIDE stepped in to organise the event. By 1948 a three-year cycle of qualifiers kicked off, running until the early ’90s. Then in 1993, Garry Kasparov split from FIDE, spawning a rival world title that lasted until both crowns were unified at the 2006 World Chess Championship. Since then, FIDE’s been the sole ruler, staging the biennial FIDE World Chess Championship you know today.

In Kenya, though chess tournaments are still growing, you’ve probably seen local events popping up in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. Clubs like the Nairobi Chess Club and online meetups on Lichess keep the scene buzzing. Keep an eye out for upcoming chess tournaments in Kenya 2025—there’s plenty of action if you want to test your own skills or just cheer on the pros.

Carlsen’s Checkmate Reign

Magnus Carlsen of Norway has held the world crown since 2013 and is the youngest-ever to break the 2800 rating barrier. As a teenager he shot up the rankings but actually sat out the 2010 Candidates over format beefs. He returned in 2013, topped the London Candidates, edged out Vladimir Kramnik in the tie-breaks and then beat Viswanathan Anand 6½–3½ for the title.

Curious about magnus carlsen age? He was just 22 when he claimed the crown and has been virtually unbeatable in classical chess ever since.

Chess is older than most of the sports you bet on—and it still racks up huge numbers. Millions play casual games, while pros battle for big prize funds. The men’s FIDE World Chess Championship now offers a pot of KSh 148,722,000, and the women’s championship has KSh 37,346,200 up for grabs. Word is that FIDE plans to boost these sums even more as chess booms worldwide.

To play, you just need a board and set of pieces—king, queen, rooks, bishops, knights and eight pawns for each side. Want to go timed? Grab a chess clock and keep score of your moves. For those curious about the pieces in chess or chess board and pieces names, here’s the quick run-down: pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, queen and king, with white and black armies facing off.

Chess is now a global phenomenon—over 60 million games per day and counting. Since 2014 the world championship’s been on a two-year cycle (aside from the COVID-hit 2020), and Carlsen defended his title in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2021. His fanbase is massive, both here and abroad.

All players can chase the FIDE crown, from the top grandmasters to juniors—plus there are women’s, under-20s and esports leagues. Rapid, blitz, correspondence, problem-solving and Fischer Random all have world titles too. And thanks to the Netflix hit ‘The Queen’s Gambit’, chess clubs and online play blew up—youngsters in Kenya are getting hyped, and you might’ve even joined a chess tournaments in Kenya 2024 after bingeing the show.

Chess has carved its niche in online sport betting. While it’s not quite as massive as football, fans love it—and Kenyan bookmakers now offer FIDE World Chess Championship odds alongside your usual football and boxing markets. Whether you’re scrolling Gal Sport Betting, Betika or any top online sport betting sites, you’ll find chess lines right next to the latest football odds.

Deposits and withdrawals? M-Pesa and Airtel Money have you covered. Plus, everything’s regulated by the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), so you’re playing in a legal, transparent setup.

Your Quick-Start Betting Playbook

Outcome bets: pick who wins any match—simple and classic. Double Chance: cover a player to win or draw (1X or 2X). Safer, but odds are lower. Handicap Bet: this one’s trickier. Say a player starts with, e.g., a +½ handicap—you win if they avoid an outright loss. If the game ends level on a zero handicap, your stake is refunded. For more on handicap in bet meaning and what does handicap mean in bet, it’s a solid step up once you’ve tried outcomes.

Whether you’re a newbie or you’ve followed chess results Kenya-side, these markets let you back your favourites—and scout good value just like you do in football betting, where handicap in football bet tips rule the roost.

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