Peter Leko
On 2 November 2026, FIDE announced on X that GMs Peter Leko and Peter Svidler will provide the official commentary for the Salesforce FIDE World Championship 2026. Gukesh Dommaraju defends his title against Javokhir Sindarov in Geneva, with the first game set for 24 November.
FIDE’s post gives the playing dates as 24 November to 12 December. The match is a best-of-14 series of classical games, held at the Fondation Martin Bodmer in Cologny, and tickets are already on sale.
Two different kinds of authority
The pairing works because the two men bring different credentials. Leko has sat on the other side of the glass: in 2004 he played Vladimir Kramnik for the world title in Brissago. That was the last time Switzerland hosted a World Championship match, so his presence in Geneva carries a certain symmetry.
He has since built a reputation as one of the most liked commentators in the game. ChessBase describes him as warm and honest, and as someone who explains a position so that even a club player can follow it.
Svidler’s credentials are of another sort: decades of top-level experience and a long-standing reputation as one of the most appreciated commentators in chess. His commentary is known for deep knowledge delivered with dry humour, which is a useful trait when a game drifts into a long manoeuvring phase.
Why the desk matters in a 14-game match
Classical World Championship games are often slow, and much of what decides them is hard to see at first glance. A commentary team has to fill hours of quiet play without losing viewers, and then explain the moment the position tips.
Leko can speak to the nerves of a title match from experience. Svidler can describe the preparation and structure behind a long game. Between them, viewers should get a clear account of what Gukesh and Sindarov are thinking, move by move.
The match they will be describing
How the two men’s styles meet is the question the commentators will be asked to answer, game after game. For a wider look at that clash, see our piece on how Speelman reads the match through past attackers.
Tickets for the Fondation Martin Bodmer are on sale now, and the first game is on 24 November.
Original source: ChessBase
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