Grandmaster Garry Kasparov has commented on the significant shift in the chess world, highlighted by the upcoming World Championship title match between holder Ding Liren and contender D Gukesh. Gukesh, who upset the odds to win the Candidates in Toronto, holds the record as the youngest challenger in history, surpassing Garry Kasparov’s record by 40 years.
Kasparov, a multiple world title holder, attributes the success of Indian Grandmasters to Viswanathan Anand’s significant mentorship. Three Indian players, including Gukesh, participated in the Candidates, a tournament that determines the challenger for the world title. R Praggnanandhaa, who finished as the runner-up in last year’s Chess World Cup, and Vidit Gujrathi, who won the Grand Swiss in 2023, also performed remarkably, finishing 5th and 6th respectively in their debut Candidates tournament.
Kasparov emphasizes that the success of Indian and Chinese players in chess is evident not only in the Candidates but also among young players in the diaspora in the USA and UK. His Kasparov Foundation has taken note of this growing trend and anticipates further success for these prodigies.
Despite not being among the favorites initially, Gukesh’s impressive performances at the World Cup and Grand Swiss earned him a spot in the Candidates. Kasparov himself had previously downplayed the chances of the Indian players, but Gukesh’s victory and the overall success of Indian chess enthusiasts have proven otherwise.
