Teenage star R Praggnanandhaa will enter the Chess Candidates Championship, which begins on Wednesday, as the favorite among three Indian contestants to determine the challenger for the next world championship. Nearly 35 years later, as many as three Indians – Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh and Vidit Gujrathi – have qualified for this year’s most prestigious event, which has only eight contestants. An expert said that India is the new Russia in the world of chess, a dominance that only Russian players could show in the past.
Praggnanandhaa, 18, started out as a favorite among Indians and chess enthusiasts, although top players in the world believe it will still take time for the three Indian youngsters to break into the ranks of the world’s elite.
Pragnanda is fearless, mentally healthy and will likely be assisted by eight-time Russian champion Peter Svidler. People can’t help but remember that at a world championship, Indian master Harikrishna helped Svidler win the world championship.
While Svidler could be a game-changer, a lot will depend on Pragananda’s form and how he adapts to this tough tournament, where eight players will play each other twice.
At just 17 years old, Gukesh is hailed as one of the best talents. The Indian is also the youngest competitor and the second youngest to qualify for the elite event after Robert James Fisher (aka Bobby Fisher). Fisher qualified in 1959 at the age of 16.
Fisher’s record, which lasted for 65 years, is a testament to what it takes to be one of the candidates, and if Gukesh wins, he will become the youngest man ever to compete for a world title.
Vidit Gujrathi’s assignment will be canceled and a lot will depend on his form. In his last outing, possibly training his eye for candidates, the Nashik native had a poor showing at the Prague Masters and dropped significantly on the ratings charts.
Pragnananda became the first to qualify for the tournament with his silver-medal performance at the last World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Indian star lost the final to Magnus Carlsen but has recovered a lot since then and has become even more ferocious.
The Gujarati won the honor for his outstanding performance in last year’s Grand Swiss Championship held in the Isle of Man, UK. The Indians were at their best in the final stages of the game.
It was hair-raising for Gukesh, but the teenager showed nerves of steel to win a GM tournament in Chennai last December to earn a spot in the ratings process.
However, the field is diverse and full of young people and experience.
American Fabiano Caruana starts as the top seed, ahead of his compatriot Hikaru Nakamura. French player Alireza Firouza, 20, is ranked third, while two-time challenger Russian Ian Nepomniacki is seeded fourth.
Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh and Gujrathi follow these four players in terms of FIDE ratings, while Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov is the final seed for the event.
The first round starts at midnight (IST) on Thursday. There will be a total of four days off. The winner will not only compete in the world championship, but will also receive a fortune of 48,000 euros (approximately Rs. 45 lakh).
Path to Candidates: Ian Nepomniachtchi (2758) – Qualified as runner-up at the last World Championship.
R Praggnanandhaa (2747) – Qualified as runners-up in the 2023 World Cup.
Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2804) – Qualified for the 2023 World Cup as third runner-up.
Nijat Abbasov (AZE, 2632) – Qualified for the 2023 World Cup after finishing fourth after champion Magnus Carlsen refused to compete.
Vidit Gujrathi (2747) – Qualifies to become the 2023 Swiss Grand Prix Champion.
Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2789) – Finished second at the 2023 Swiss Grand Prix.
Alireza Firouzja (France, 2760) – Best rated on January 1, 2024.
D Gukesh (2747) – Qualified for 2023 FIDE Tour Championship.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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