Hikaru Nakamura backs D Gukesh as clear favourite in World Championship match against Ding Liren

World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura has thrown his support behind Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh as the clear favorite in the upcoming World Championship match against China’s Ding Liren, scheduled to take place later this year in Singapore. In an exclusive interview with PTI in London, Nakamura praised Gukesh’s skills and predicted that the young talent has an 80-20 chance of emerging victorious in the competition.

Nakamura highlighted Gukesh’s impressive track record against top players, including himself, as evidence of the teenager’s potential to dominate the upcoming championship. The 18-year-old Gukesh recently held Nakamura to a draw in the Candidates tournament in Toronto, ultimately dashing Nakamura’s hopes of advancing to the World Championship final.

While acknowledging Ding Liren’s capabilities, Nakamura emphasized that Gukesh holds the upper hand in the match-up. He suggested that Ding’s best chance of turning the tide would be to secure draws in the initial games, creating a scenario where a single game could shift the entire outcome of the match.

In addition to discussing the World Championship prospects, Nakamura expressed disappointment with the current state of American chess, citing reasons for his decision to skip the Chess Olympiad after seven consecutive appearances. He addressed comments from fellow GM Wesley So, who suggested that Nakamura’s absence cost the U.S. team a shot at gold, by pointing out the exceptional performances of Indian players like Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi in the tournament.

Nakamura also raised concerns about the limited participation of American players in events and the inflation of ratings due to a lack of competition. He criticized the financial conditions of tournaments and highlighted the more lucrative opportunities in content creation and streaming compared to traditional tournament play.

As the chess world eagerly anticipates the World Championship match between Gukesh and Ding Liren, Nakamura’s insights and predictions add an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming showdown. Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling chess battle.

Published By: Kingshuk Kusari
Published On: Oct 11, 2024