Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh is being strongly favoured to clinch victory in his World Chess Championship face-off with China’s Ding Liren in Singapore later this month. Gukesh has enjoyed an year of wins, not only becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Candidates Tournament but also leading India to success at the 45th Chess Olympiad.
The World Chess Championship 2024, hosted in Singapore from 25 November to 13 December, will see Gukesh and Liren competing in a best-of-14 format, with tiebreakers if needed.
Anish Giri’s prediction for Gukesh’s success
Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri has expressed confidence in Gukesh’s chances, stating “I would be really- really surprised” if Gukesh does not win. Giri believes this will be the biggest match of Gukesh’s career and that he’s likely to become only the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to win the world title. “I will be really, really surprised if Gukesh doesn’t win. Everything points to his victory at the moment. He has been playing tremendously for a long time,” Giri told The Hindu.
According to Giri, Gukesh has improved since the 2022 Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, where India won bronze in both the Open and Women’s sections. Giri noted that Gukesh has developed a “solid layer” to his game, now blending his natural attacking style with a more secure approach.
Strategic depth in Gukesh’s recent games
Reflecting on his encounter with Gukesh in the Sinquefield Cup, Giri shared how Gukesh’s preparation surprised him, as it prevented him from getting the game to flow in his favour. Giri noted that Gukesh’s newfound depth and solid strategies are signs of his growth and maturity as a player.
A big chance for Gukesh
Viswanathan Anand, India’s first Grandmaster in 1988, remains the only Indian to have claimed the chess world championship. He achieved multiple titles, defeating formidable opponents such as Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov, and Boris Gelfand, and held the title until 2013 when Magnus Carlsen claimed it.
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