NAGPUR: For the first time since the Candidates chess tournament was first played in 1950, as many as five Indian masters will be vying to become a challenger to the world chess champion.
It took a decade for an Indian to qualify for the Candidates after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand last played on this stage in 2014. The eight-player event, to be played in open and women’s categories, will begin at The Great Hall in Toronto, Canada, from Wednesday.
The 20-day tournament, featuring 14 rounds, in both the open and women’s category, will conclude on April 22.Played in a double-round robin format, the 2024 Candidates tournaments organized by the world chess federation (FIDE) will be played simultaneously under one roof for the first time.

Following an excruciating qualification process, the world’s best eight players — in both categories — earned a chance at becoming a challenger for the world championship title. The open winner will face world champion Ding Liren of China and women’s winner will take on Ju Wenjun, also from China, at the end of this year.
Young Indian grandmasters Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (18), Dommaraju Gukesh (17) and 29-year-old Vidit Gujrathi will make their debut in the open category of the tournament, which will see an interesting contest between youthful exuberance and experience.
Anand, who played the CandIdates from 1991 to 2014, feels that experienced players will prevail over young stars. However, he wants the three Indian candidates “to first settle into the tournament and try to play good games”.

Much like Anand, former world champion Magnus Carlsen said Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura of the United States are the clear favourites and will have “excellent chances”.
Carlsen, who ruled himself out of the world championship cycle in 2022 citing lack of motivation after winning the title five times, also termed Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and Alireja Firouza of France as the unpredictable players of the tournament.

Having dominated the 64 squares for years, Carlsen describes Candidates as “almost psychologically as tough as the world championship”.
Despite the odds stacked against them, teenagers Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh will be eager to make their mark and hope to prove Anand and Carslen wrong. Looking at their consistent performance rating of 2781 Elo and 2712 Elo in the last 12 months respectively, both Pragg and Gukesh will be the players to watch out for.
Pragg, who plays fearlessly, starts as the favourite among Indian players. The teen sensation, who will be assisted by eight-time Russian champion Peter Svidler over 20 days, is also the favourite of chess buffs.

In an interview to chess.com on Tuesday, Anand was quoted as saying, “After May 2023, Pragg was suddenly outperforming everywhere. I think he feels more confident and has already set his sights much higher. I wouldn’t be surprised if he qualified for the final.”
Carlsen added, “Pragg has his weak moments, but he is also very stable psychologically, he will do well.”
Gukesh, at 17, is the third youngest participant in Candidates after Bobby Fischer and Carlsen. A consistent performer for the past four years, he is known for making accurate calculations on the board similar to Carlsen. Of the three Indian candidates, Gukesh holds a better ratio of winning
games — 48% — with a peak rating of 2758 Elo. He was the first Indian in 37 years to crack the 2750-mark after Anand.
Now, Arjun Erigiasi, who failed to qualify for the Candidates, has an Elo rating of 2756 and is the highest-ranked Indian At world No. 9. The 29-year-old Nashik GM Vidit Gujrathi is the oldest of the four first-time Indian participants in the field.

Carlsen talked about Vidit’s capabilities to spring a surprise in the tournament.
“Vidit has improved quite a lot, especially from a psychological point,” Carlsen was quoted as saying.
In a chat with TOI, Vidit said, “It is a dream of all chess players to play the Candidates and stand a chance for the World Championship. So definitely, this is the biggest tournament of my career. I am definitely going to give my best and make sure no stone is left unturned.”
KONERU HUMPY TO LEAD WOMEN’S CHALLENGE
World 2019 rapid champion Koneru Humpy will lead the Indian challenge in the women’s Candidates’ chess tournament.

Russian GM Aleksandra Goryachkina is the rating favourite for the crown and former women’s world champion Lei Tingjie of China will be the player to watch.
At 37, Humpy is the oldest participant in the women’s field in Toronto, while 22-year-old R Vaishali – Pragg’s sister – will make her Candidates debut.
Humpy qualified thanks to her consistent higher rating, while Vaishali’s never-say-die attitude helped her clinch a spot in the biggest tournament of her career. She won the women’s grand prix crown last year to qualify for the Candidates, thereby creating history of two siblings qualifying for the Candidates.
Having played three world championships from 2004 to 2010, Humpy has experience on her side and would be eager to become a challenger as this is one title that has eluded India’s top chess star.