The ultimate chess icon, Viswanathan Anand, has always been open to advice and warnings to emerging chess talents like Gukesh D, or Arjun Erigiasi. As Norway Chess 2025 comes closer to a start, he warns them both of the potential risks and areas of improvement. The tournament starts on 26 May and will continue until 6 June in Stavanger, Norway. The event will feature a six-player double round-robin format and promises intense competition with high-stakes matchups like Magnus vs. Gukesh and Magnus vs. Arjun Erigiasi.
These matchups will be the highlight of the tournament due to the well-known rivalry between Gukesh and Magnus. However, the recent win by Arjun against Magnus in the Freestyle Chess Tour Paris Leg has fueled another highly anticipated chess rivalry. The tournament also features other top players such as Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura.
Viswanathan Anand Warns Both Gukesh And Arjun Erigiasi
Ahead of the tournament, former World Champion Viswanathan Anand expressed his excitement while also issuing a warning to Gukesh and Arjun Erigiasi. He said, “I expect a very exciting battle. “Both Gukesh and Arjun will not lack motivation or the determination to go after Magnus. But Magnus is highly motivated by our youngsters, if I can still call them that.”
“He is highly motivated by the challenge. I mean, I’ve seen him in multiple tournaments, whether it’s Kolkata or the World Rapid Blitz. He eagerly looks forward to these confrontations, and so we have the perfect storm,” he added
Anand also praised the strength and depth of Indian chess while also applauding the success of women players like Koneru Humpy, who recently won the FIDE Grand Prix Pune Leg. He said, “Certainly on the men’s side, Indian chess is as strong as it’s ever been, even more so obviously due to the depth we have. But it’s great that Humpy is still competing so successfully and that she’ll be joined by Vaishali as well.”
Norway Chess 2025 Indian Lineup
The Indian lineup in the upcoming Norway Chess 2025 will include Gukesh D and Arjun Erigiasi in the men’s category and Koneru Humpy and Vaishali Rameshbabu in the women’s category.
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