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India’s No.1 Praggnanandhaa Predicts a Fascinating World Championship Between Gukesh and Sindarov
India’s top‑ranked chess player, R Praggnanandhaa, said he expects the upcoming World Chess Championship match between D Gukesh and Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov to be an intriguing contest, with both 20‑year‑olds bringing distinct strengths to the board. Speaking to ChessBase India, Praggnanandhaa noted that he has known both players since their early years in chess, recalling his first games against Sindarov in 2013 and against Gukesh around the same time. He described the match as a special occasion for their generation, as it will be the first World Championship featuring two players of the same age group.
"I think it’s going to be interesting," Praggnanandhaa said, adding that he was looking forward to watching the contest. He acknowledged Sindarov’s recent form but pointed out that Gukesh had produced encouraging performances at the Olympiad and appeared confident.
Praggnanandhaa also spoke about the unique pressure of being World Champion. "The World Champion pressure is completely different and I cannot answer it in any way because I haven’t experienced that," he said. He added that while pressure is part of every competitive player’s journey, defending the world title brings additional expectations and responsibilities.
Discussing his own position as India’s No.1, Praggnanandhaa said the ranking does not carry extraordinary significance for him, noting that the top spot has changed hands between him, Arjun Erigaisi and Gukesh in recent months.
Reigning world champion Gukesh recently visited Neem Karoli Baba’s ashram on Wednesday ahead of his title defence against Sindarov. The championship will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 24 to December 11. Both players will be 20 years old when the match begins, making it the youngest World Championship contest in chess history. The format will feature a maximum of 14 classical games, with the first player to reach 7.5 points crowned champion. If the scores are tied at 7‑7, a tiebreaker will be played on December 12. The championship also carries a total prize fund of $2.5 million, adding to the significance of the contest.