 "Exclusive | 'India is the best country for chess right now’: Alireza Firouzja hails rise of Indian players, talks Carlsen & more")
Iranian-French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja was full of praise for Indian chess and its young stars after the Global Chess League (GCL) 2025 Season 3 came to a thrilling end in Mumbai. Firouzja spoke exclusively to Rupha Ramani of First Sports, sharing his thoughts on India, the rise of young players, and the future of chess.
The Global Chess League final saw Indian Grandmasters R Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri’s team, Alpine SG Pipers, lift the trophy after defeating defending champions Triveni Continental Kings. The Pipers won the finals in convincing fashion, taking the first match 4-2 with black and dominating the second match 4.5-1.5 to claim their maiden GCL title.
Firouzja played a key role in the final. In the first match, he defeated Fabiano Caruana in a sharp and tactical battle, setting the tone for his team. However, his team couldn’t take advantage of the great start as Anish Giri and Praggnanandhaa delivered when it mattered most to help their side win. Despite the setback in the final, Firouzja finished as the top-ranked player with 26 points in 12 matches.
Prince of Season 3@AlirezaFirouzja @tech_mahindra @chesscom_in @ChessbaseIndia @chess24com
— Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (@GCLlive) December 23, 2025
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Firouzja on youngsters dominating chess
Speaking about his time in India, Firouzja said he has enjoyed his stay in the country. He mentioned that the past week had been great and that he also managed to do some sightseeing, calling the city beautiful.
At just 22 years old, Firouzja believes the sport is now dominated by the younger generation. He said that players of his age group are extremely strong and are already making a big impact on world chess. He especially praised Indian youngsters like Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh, saying they are amazing players and that the fight for the top spot will continue for many years.
“Yeah, I think the new generation, my generation, I think we have very great players. That’s for sure in the coming years they will dominate the chess world if already they did not. So I think especially from India we have Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, they are amazing players and it will be fight for the top for many years to come,” Firouzja said.
Firouzja explained that one big difference between the current generation and earlier players is the use of technology. “I think the new generation has worked with very strong computers and a lot more tools are accessible in internet right now. So I think it’s very scary the difference of the level now. I think because you can just as an eight-year-old from anywhere in the world can have access to internet and have the best tools that we use as top players,” he said.
Firouzja praises India’s recent rise in chess
Firouzja also said that India is currently the best country for chess. “Yeah, 100%. If by any metrics, I think India is right now the best country for chess, and of course, there are a few countries that are very close. They are also fighting like Uzbekistan and some other countries also but I think India has such great players in the top and they are in the right way and they have very good infrastructure for chess like academies and stuff so I think that’s the biggest help,” he said.
Firouzja also shared his respect for Magnus Carlsen, calling him someone who always speaks his mind and does what he believes is right. “I think Magnus is someone who always says what he truly believes and does what he feels is right. That is something I really respect about him. Of course, many players don’t always agree with his opinions, but some of the things he says are correct. For example, when he talks about chess moving towards faster formats, I understand his point. In the end, everyone has their own opinion, but he speaks honestly.”
“It’s a very tough topic to talk about. Everyone has different opinions, and you need many professionals to discuss it properly. But personally, I mostly agree with Magnus. I think chess should move towards faster time formats. At the same time, I understand that many people are more conservative,” Firouzja said when asked about classical chess’s future.
He also spoke highly of Indian players like Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa. “Gukesh’s biggest advantage is his bravery. He’s not afraid to take risks, which is something very few top players have. Praggnanandhaa, on the other hand, is very solid. He doesn’t take too many risks, but he also doesn’t lose many games. That makes him very consistent. All Indian players like Arjun, Praggnanandhaa, and Gukesh are at almost the same level. In certain tournaments, one of them performs better than the others.”
Calling the Candidates Tournament one of the toughest events in chess, Firouzja said, “The Candidates is extremely tough. It happens once every two years, and you prepare for almost a year, but everything is decided in just two weeks. If you’re sick or not mentally or physically right during that time, it’s very unfortunate. Then you have to wait another two years. It’s very entertaining to watch, but I’m not always sure the best player comes out as the winner.”
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