The Road to the Candidates: Can Indian Prodigies Rise Again?

Gukesh’s Triumph Sparks New Chess Era as Candidates Tournament Kicks Off in Cyprus

NEW DELHI: Two years ago, when Dommaraju Gukesh made headlines at the Candidates in Toronto, the chess world hailed it as a miracle. Fast forward to his stunning victory over Ding Liren in Singapore, where he became the youngest-ever World Champion, and that miracle has transformed into a seismic shift in the chess landscape.

As the marathon to find Gukesh’s next challenger begins this Saturday in Cyprus, a curious silence envelops the Indian camp. Despite Gukesh’s recent admission that he would welcome an all-Indian showdown against R Praggnanandhaa for the title, the pre-tournament buzz suggests that Indian players are not the frontrunners in either the open or women’s categories.

The American Wall: Nakamura and Caruana Lead the Charge

The tempered expectations stem from the formidable presence of American chess giants, World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura and World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana. In an era dominated by teenage prodigies, these seasoned veterans have recalibrated their game. At 38, Nakamura continues to defy age, maintaining a 2800-plus rating while juggling a full-time streaming career.

“One cannot rule out Nakamura’s best chances,” veteran Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay told Times of India. “He is the only player keeping above 2800 all these years. His cleverness in specific opening preparations makes him a serious contender.”

Caruana, 33, presents a different challenge with his “unbeatable” reputation. “He is very solid,” Thipsay noted. “He doesn’t necessarily aim to win in the opening, but he’s always on firm ground. It’s possible Caruana ends up unbeaten in the event, though he must score heavily enough.”

The Pragg Puzzle

While the chess world eagerly anticipates Praggnanandhaa’s ascent, recent months have seen him consolidate rather than conquer. After a stellar first half of 2025, the Chennai prodigy struggled at the top during the latter half of the year, and his 2026 start hasn’t been promising.

“Praggnanandhaa had very good years, but recently, he has not been at his best,” Thipsay observed. To win the Candidates, Pragg must return to his roots as a cold-blooded attacker. “He must focus on seizing the initiative with the white pieces. His strength lies in attacking the enemy king.”

In a competitive field that includes Wei Yi and the unpredictable Javokhir Sindarov, who Thipsay warns may cause upsets but often makes simple mistakes, Praggnanandhaa cannot afford to play for safe draws if he hopes to set up that dream all-Indian World Championship match.

The Women’s Field: Divya Deshmukh’s Edge

While the open section appears daunting, the Women’s Candidates offer a glimmer of hope. With the withdrawal of legendary Koneru Humpy due to safety concerns in West Asia, the spotlight has shifted to 20-year-old World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh and 24-year-old Vaishali Rameshbabu, the 2025 Women’s Grand Swiss champion.

Despite being rated lower than top seed Zhu Jiner, Divya possesses a psychological edge, regularly competing in the open circuit dominated by men. “The wisdom Divya shows in playing men’s events has made her very strong against the best defenses,” Thipsay remarked. “In the past, no Indian except Humpy had beaten Chinese players in a match, but 2025 was different. Divya and Humpy defeated four Chinese players among themselves.”

Thipsay believes the title race is a direct contest between Zhu Jiner and Divya, with Vaishali holding an outside chance for second or third place.

The Road Ahead

As the tournament kicks off, the narrative is clear. The “Gukesh effect” has made the world wary of Indian prodigies, compelling the old guard to sharpen their skills. For Nakamura and Caruana, this may be their last realistic shot at a World Championship match before the next generation takes over.

For India, the challenge is to prove that Gukesh wasn’t a standalone miracle but the first of many. Whether Praggnanandhaa can reclaim his attacking initiative or Divya can dismantle the Chinese wall will be determined over the next three weeks in Cyprus. The stakes are high, as the outcome will decide if the World Championship remains an internal Indian affair or evolves into a global tug-of-war.