The upcoming World Chess Championship holds the potential for an all-Asian showdown, featuring players from two of the world’s most populous countries. Although not considered favorites, three Indian players are set to compete in the open section, adding an exciting dimension to the tournament.
In the current landscape, both the open and women’s world chess titles are held by Chinese players – Grandmaster Ding Liren and Grandmaster Ju Wenjun. The Candidates 2024 tournament, to be hosted in Toronto, Canada, will determine the challengers for both titles.
In the open section, India is represented by Grandmasters R.Praggnanandhaa, D.Gukesh, and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi. The women’s section features the experienced Grandmaster Koneru Humpy and the young Woman Grandmaster R. Vaishali.
According to GM Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE, while the Indian players are worthy contenders, none are outright favorites. However, the possibility of an exciting Title Match between Chinese and Indian players is not to be dismissed.
This marks a historic moment as siblings Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali participate in the Candidates tournament for the first time from India. GM R.B. Ramesh, a renowned coach, sees this as a positive development, hoping it will lead to an Indian challenging for the World title in the future.
In the open category, formidable opponents include GMs Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja, and the replacement player Nijat Abasov. Despite the tough competition, the young Indian players have showcased their prowess, with Gukesh notably achieving a perfect score of 7/7 at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai.
The women’s section presents a challenging field, with contenders like Lei Tingjie, Kateryna Lagno, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Anna Muzychuk, Tan Zhongyi, and WGM Nurgyul Salimova. While Humpy leads the Indian charge, Vaishali, ranked 14th globally, adds a promising dimension to the competition.
As the chess world eagerly awaits the Candidates 2024 tournament, India’s representation and emerging talents promise an enthralling and competitive event.
-IANS
