Anand Urges Gukesh to Emulate Praggnanandhaa’s Competitive Spirit Following Norway Chess Triumph
Viswanathan Anand Urges D Gukesh to Embrace Praggnanandhaa’s Competitive Spirit
In a recent commentary that has captured the attention of the chess community, legendary Indian chess player Viswanathan Anand praised the highly competitive style of play exhibited by R Praggnanandhaa, the newly crowned Norway Chess champion. Anand’s remarks come at a crucial time for current world champion D Gukesh, who has faced challenges in his recent performances.
Praggnanandhaa made history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title, showcasing an impressive turnaround in his last four rounds. In contrast, Gukesh finished sixth in the tournament, prompting Anand to suggest that he could benefit from observing Praggnanandhaa’s approach.
“I am delighted that Praggnanandhaa has won Norway Chess in an impressive style. He is playing the game with some amazingly impressive concepts and style,” Anand told PTI. He emphasized the importance of resilience and hard work, stating, “Gukesh seems to be stuck a bit. I think he can take inspiration from Pragg. If you persist with hard work, then at some point, things will change.”
Anand highlighted Praggnanandhaa’s readiness for a fight on the board, which he believes contributes to the young player’s ability to generate innovative strategies. “He is always ready for a fight. The results might not always work out, but it’s great to see him play interesting chess,” Anand remarked.
The five-time world champion also expressed pride in the rapid growth of Indian chess, noting that the country now boasts 95 Grandmasters and a world champion among its ranks. “India is definitely in the top three. We have increased our strength a lot. Things are going up for India, and now women are joining this movement,” he added.
As Gukesh prepares to defend his world title against Javokhir Sindarov later this year, Anand’s words serve as both a challenge and a source of inspiration. The chess world will be watching closely to see if Gukesh can harness the lessons from Praggnanandhaa’s recent success to turn his fortunes around.