Cricket met chess on Sunday night. Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who has played for India in both short formats, took on the World No. 4 Javokhir Sindarov in a game of chess.

After the match against the Uzbek, played at RCB Bar & Cafe, Venkatesh said: “I got the opportunity to play with the world’s No. 4 chess player. I managed to survive five minutes without losing.”

Sindarov, who will challenge India’s D. Gukesh for the World championship this year, is in the city for the Global Chess League, in which he is playing for Fyers American Gambits. He was joined by his teammates Daniil Dubov, Nihal Sarin, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, and MarcAndria Maurizzi.

Venkatesh also spoke of Bengaluru’s passion for multiple sports. “I’ve been to a lot of cities in the country, but the love for sports here is just amazing, and it goes well beyond cricket,” he said.

“Whether it is football, athletics, chess, pickleball or paddle, people here take their sport seriously, both in playing and supporting it.”

There was also an exchange of shirts between RCB and American Gambits.

Geneva will host the World chess championship match between D. Gukesh and Javokhir Sindarov from November 25 to December 15.

Chennai-based Gukesh had won the title by beating China’s Ding Liren in Singapore two years ago, while his Uzbek rival earned the right to be the challenger after winning the Candidates tournament. Both players are aged 20, making it the youngest World title match in history.

Viswanathan Anand, world chess governing body FIDE’s interim president, said several countries, including India, the United States, and Cyprus, had expressed interest to host the event.

“FIDE has decided to stage the match on neutral soil and bring it to Geneva, a city with a historic tradition of bringing nations and cultures together,” said the five-time World champion.

“We look forward to welcoming the global chess community to Switzerland. The local chess fans will have the opportunity to experience world-class chess in person, while fans around the globe can follow online as the duel for the highest title in chess unfolds.”

President of the Swiss Chess Federation Andre Voegtlin said it was a truly special day for Swiss chess. “Twenty-two years after Brissago (2004 World title match), an event of major global chess significance is returning to Switzerland. It’s a moment that fills us with joy and motivation.”

Though Gukesh has had to go through some tough times after becoming the youngest ever World champion, in sharp contrast to the rapid rise of Sindarov, it should be a fascinating match between the two young men.