India’s wait for a world chess champion may soon be over, as chess legend Viswanathan Anand expressed his hopes that “some Indians” would qualify for the Candidates Tournament next year. The Candidates Tournament, to be held in Toronto, will determine the challenger to the recently-crowned Ding Liren in the next World Championship in 2024. Anand, a former world chess champion himself, believes that Indian players have a good chance of qualifying for the tournament and possibly even winning it.
Anand’s comments came during an exclusive virtual interaction with PTI on the sidelines of the announcement of the Global Chess League. The Global Chess League, set to launch in 2023, aims to create a new format for team chess and bring the game to a wider audience.
Anand, who is also a part of the Global Chess League’s advisory board, expressed his excitement about the league’s potential to boost the popularity of chess. “It’s a very exciting project,” he said. “I think it’s important that we keep innovating, keep trying new things, and keep pushing the boundaries of what chess can be.”
But while the Global Chess League may be the future of chess, Anand knows that the present is still focused on individual competition. And for India, that means focusing on producing top-level chess players who can compete on the world stage.
India has a rich history in chess, with players like Anand, Dronavalli Harika, and Koneru Humpy achieving international success. But despite this, India has never produced a world chess champion. Anand came close several times, winning the world championship in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012, but was unable to hold onto the title for more than a year.
But Anand believes that India’s current crop of players have what it takes to win the world championship. “We have a lot of talented players in India,” he said. “I think some of them have the potential to become world champions.”
Anand pointed to players like Pentala Harikrishna, Vidit Gujrathi, and R. Praggnanandhaa as possible contenders for the Candidates Tournament. “They are all very talented players and have the potential to do well in the tournament,” he said. “Of course, it’s not easy, but I think they have a good chance.”
Anand also spoke about the challenges facing Indian players in their quest for the world championship. “One of the main challenges is getting access to top-level competition,” he said. “It’s important for players to be able to play against the best in the world on a regular basis. That’s why tournaments like the Candidates are so important.”
Another challenge facing Indian players is the lack of support from the government and private sector. “Chess is not yet considered a mainstream sport in India,” Anand said. “So it’s difficult for players to get the kind of support they need to compete at the highest level.”
Despite these challenges, Anand remains optimistic about India’s chances of producing a world chess champion. “We have the talent, we have the passion, and we have the drive to succeed,” he said. “I believe that some Indian player will win the world championship in the near future.”
Anand’s comments have given a boost to the Indian chess community, which has long been waiting for a world champion. With the Global Chess League set to launch next year, and the Candidates Tournament on the horizon, Indian chess players have a lot to look forward to. And who knows, maybe one of them will be the next world champion.
