 "File image of Indian chess grandmasters D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi. Image credit: FIDE")
Ahead of his world championship battle against China’s Ding Liren in Singapore that gets underway four days from now, Arjun Erigaisi has advised fellow top-rated Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh against counting himself as a “huge favourite” for the upcoming match and focusing on the process. Gukesh has been backed by several former and current players, including world No 1 Magnus Carlsen , to end Ding’s year-long reign as world champion given his red-hot form in 2024, which is in direct contrast to that of the Chinese GM.
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Erigaisi, who had recently risen to the second spot in the FIDE ratings recently, added that while Gukesh remains a “massive favourite” after winning the Candidates Tournament and playing a key role in India’s golden sweep in the Chess Olympiad , things could get real interesting if Ding is “anywhere close to his best” in the title showdown.
“I think it’s clear that Gukesh is the favourite. Both of them have their strengths and weaknesses. But Gukesh is a massive favourite. It’s more to do with Ding’s form because the Chinese has not been in good shape,” Erigaisi, who also played an important role in India’s Olympiad triumph in Budapest in September, told PTI on Wednesday.
“If he (Ding) shows up anywhere close to his best, then it will be a really interesting match. And, as a chess fan, I hope that it happens. Not just me but any chess fan would hope that Ding shows up well and is able to play at his best, so that it will be an interesting match.
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More Shorts“But, as an Indian, I cannot help but support Gukesh,” Arjun added.
Gukesh had suffered his first defeat in 38 games in the Classical format during the European Club Chess Cup last month. Ding, who had beaten Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana last year to be crowned world champion, has yet to register a victory in the same format since January.
Gukesh had also hired the services of mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton ahead of what will be the biggest match of his career so far, and Erigaisi felt it was a good move on the part of the world No 5, who is the youngest challenger for the world title at just 18 years of age.
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“Chess is a mental sport. To be in a good frame of mind is very important. We saw what happened to (Russian GM) Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 2021 World Championship match. It started out with five draws, but then Nepomniachtchi lost the sixth game and then he just collapsed.
“He couldn’t fight after he lost lost one game. So, I think, in that aspect, it surely helps if you have a mental coach who can guide you and put you in a good frame of mind,” Erigaisi added.
The world chess championship showdown will take place from 25 November to 13 December in Singapore. Gukesh and Ding face each other in a best-of-14 battle with tie-breaks if necessary.