Anand Lauds Praggnanandhaa’s Triumph and Urges Gukesh to Draw Inspiration from Young Grandmaster’s Resilience
Viswanathan Anand Lauds Praggnanandhaa’s Triumph, Urges Gukesh to Embrace Resilience
NEW DELHI — In a stirring endorsement of young talent in Indian chess, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand has commended R Praggnanandhaa for his remarkable victory at the Norway Chess tournament. Praggnanandhaa made history as the first Indian to clinch this prestigious title, showcasing a tenacious spirit that Anand believes could serve as a vital lesson for fellow Grandmaster D Gukesh, who faced a disappointing sixth-place finish.
Anand expressed his admiration for Praggnanandhaa’s impressive comeback in the latter stages of the tournament, stating, “I am delighted that Praggnanandhaa has won Norway Chess in an impressive style. His spectacular turnaround in the last four rounds was truly commendable. He is playing the game with some amazingly impressive concepts and style,” he shared with PTI.
As Gukesh gears up to defend his world title against Javokhir Sindarov later this year, Anand emphasized the importance of learning from Praggnanandhaa’s perseverance. “At this moment, Praggnanandhaa is playing better than Gukesh, but anything can change. Gukesh seems to be stuck a bit. I think he can take inspiration from Pragg. If you persist with hard work, things will eventually change,” he advised.
Anand highlighted Praggnanandhaa’s aggressive approach, which has remained consistent over the past year and a half. The young Grandmaster’s willingness to take risks and fight for results has set a benchmark for his peers.
The chess legend also noted the healthy rivalry among Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi, stating, “Indian chess has never before had three players pushing each other at such a high level.” This competitive spirit is a testament to the rising prominence of Indian chess on the global stage.
With a burgeoning roster of 95 Grandmasters and a reigning world champion, Anand believes India is now among the top three chess nations worldwide. “The overall rise of Indian chess is something to be proud of,” he remarked.
As the chess community watches closely, the spotlight remains on Gukesh and his journey to reclaim his momentum, with Praggnanandhaa’s recent success serving as a beacon of inspiration.