Gukesh remains favourite for World Chess Championship but Ding has a 'good chance' if he regains form: Carlsen

Less than 10 days remain for the biggest challenge of Dommaraju Gukesh’s career, with the Indian Grandmaster set to challenge China’s Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship in Singapore between 25 November and 13 December. World No 1 Magnus Carlsen was among those backing Gukesh to be crowned champion based on his red-hot form this year, adding that he would win provided he struck first in his showdown against the Chinese GM .

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When asked to make a fresh prediction on the upcoming Gukesh vs Ding battle on Friday, Carlsen reiterated that the Indian remained a “significant favourite”. The five-time world champion, however, added a note of caution to his support for Gukesh, saying that Ding could prove quite a handful for the 18-year-old GM from Chennai if he’s able to regain his form in Singapore.

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“Based on the current form, Gukesh is a significant favorite. But based on peak chess ability, I think it’s quite even. So if Ding can regain that form, he has a good chance. Also, Gukesh was quite vulnerable in the last tournament that he played.

“But all that aside, if I was to make a prediction at this point, I’d go with the guy who’s played by far the best chess of these two players over the last couple of years, which is Gukesh,” Carlsen said after winning the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid tournament in Kolkata on Friday.

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Gukesh has enjoyed a red-hot run this year, becoming the youngest player to challenge for the world title after winning the Candidates Tournament in Toronto in April before starring in India’s golden sweep at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. He had recently suffered his first defeat in 38 Classical matches during the European Club Chess Cup in Serbia.

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Ding, on the other hand, has not won a game in the Classical format since the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands in January this year.

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Carlsen, whose chose to end his reign as FIDE world champion in 2023 by deciding against defending his title, added that the upcoming showdown is far from a “foregone conclusion” and that Gukesh’s lack of experience when it comes to the world championship is something that could potentially work in Ding’s favour.

“Each World Championship has its own rhythm. It’s something he hasn’t experienced before, so I think he might take some time getting into it. Ding probably justifiably feels that he’s the underdog, so maybe he doesn’t have that much to lose.

“Overall, it’s not a foregone conclusion. I think that some people think that this match is almost a formality at this point, but I think there is more than a 50% chance that this match is quite even,” Carlsen added.