Richard Rapport, a Hungarian Grandmaster, is deeply impressed by the meteoric rise of India’s chess prodigy, D Gukesh. Rapport, who achieved a draw against Gukesh in the Chess Olympiad, acknowledges the teenager’s exceptional talent but remains cautious about declaring him the frontrunner for the world championship. The reason for this caution lies in the upcoming showdown in November-December, a clash that Rapport describes as a whole different level of difficulty. Gukesh will face a formidable opponent in Ding Liren, the current world champion who boasts vast experience in high-stakes matches.
Rapport, who himself is a seasoned grandmaster, having achieved the title at the age of 13, believes that the world championship will be a tight contest. He highlights the significance of Ding Liren’s experience, which could play a decisive role in the match. While acknowledging Gukesh’s impressive performance at the Olympiad, Rapport emphasizes the distinct nature of the world championship, a much more demanding test.
The two grandmasters are likely to clash again next month in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL) in London. Rapport, who defeated Gukesh in their previous encounter in the inaugural GCL season, looks forward to the rematch. He notes that Gukesh’s performance in the Olympiad was impressive, but he didn’t really push the teenager to his limits. The upcoming GCL encounter offers an exciting opportunity to witness another intriguing battle between these two chess giants.
Beyond Gukesh’s rise, Rapport expresses his admiration for the Indian women’s chess team, who also secured a gold medal at the Olympiad. He praises the team’s tenacity and resilience, particularly in a tightly contested competition. He is also impressed by the overall strength of Indian chess, noting the emergence of a new generation of talented players who are pushing the boundaries of the game.
Rapport’s own journey has been marked by dedication and resilience. He switched his allegiance to Romania for a brief period but returned to the Hungarian national team after feeling valued and supported by his country’s chess body. He will now be joining forces with Magnus Carlsen, another chess titan, and fellow Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa in the upcoming GCL season. This promises to be a thrilling season with many high-stakes encounters, and Rapport is eager to be a part of this action-packed chess spectacle.
