Reflections on the Candidates: Overcoming Challenges and Setting New Goals

Teen Champion from India Makes History at Candidates Tournament

It’s been almost two weeks since the Candidates tournament concluded with a teenage champion from India making history. While the spotlight has been on the winner, for some of the other Indian players who participated in Toronto, the past week has been a time of reflection and recovery.

Vidit Gujrathi, 29, who made his debut at the Candidates tournament and finished in sixth place, is still coming to terms with his Round 11 defeat to Ian Nepomniachtchi. The game, which lasted for hours, saw the Russian player escape from two losing positions, leaving Vidit shattered.

In an interview with HT, Vidit expressed his disappointment, saying, “After that game, I was completely shattered. It killed any chance I had in the tournament. I don’t think I managed my emotions too well. I had to be more prepared for things going wrong. I want to work on getting mentally tougher. I now have to wait two more years without certainty.”

Despite the setbacks, Vidit managed to defeat world No.3 Hikaru Nakamura twice and had an impressive performance overall. Reflecting on his playing style, he said, “I modified my playing style over the past two years so I didn’t hesitate to take risks. When you play with fire, you can burn yourself. It was surely hard to handle so many losses. Almost felt like I lost more games in this single tournament than I did in a whole year previously.”

For young talent Praggnanandhaa, the tournament was a learning experience filled with missed opportunities. However, he remains motivated by his peer D Gukesh’s success in the tournament. Praggnanandhaa said, “I didn’t think we (Gen Next) were there yet but Gukesh’s win shows we are. He played really well and deserved to win, quite honestly.”

Meanwhile, Koneru Humpy, 37, who ended tied second in the Women’s Candidates, has been taking a break from chess since her return. Dealing with personal struggles during the tournament, Humpy managed to bounce back in the second half and deliver a strong performance.

The players are now at different stages of their careers, with each taking away unique lessons from the tournament. While Praggnanandhaa finds motivation in his peers, Vidit is focused on overcoming challenges, and Humpy continues to strive for her elusive goal of winning a Women’s World Championship.

The aftermath of the Candidates tournament has left these players contemplating their next moves and setting new goals. As they navigate the highs and lows of professional chess, one thing is certain – the journey continues for these talented individuals.