Russian chess icon Garry Kasparov, whose report of being the youngest world champion was bettered by D Gukesh, feels that the Indian is in a “different situation” in comparison with him as Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is thought of, “by all metrics”, a greater participant than the Chennai teenager.
Gukesh was 17 when he defeated China’s reigning world champion Ding Liren in a 14-game showdown to say the coveted title final 12 months. Kasparov was 22 when he clinched the world crown again in 1985, beating compatriot Anatoly Karpov.
“It’s a phenomenal accomplishment [Gukesh’ world championship win]. But I beat the strongest player in the world. Gukesh is in a different situation because Magnus is there.”
“So yeah Gukesh is official world champion, there is no doubt about it, but there is somebody else who is widely considered, by all metrics, as a better player,” Kasparov instructed the YouTube channel of Saint Louis Chess Club throughout the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, Romania.
This is not the primary time {that a} comparability has been made between Gukesh and Carlsen, who is the present world primary and pursuing the ambition of a freestyle chess tour, placing him at loggerheads with the world governing physique FIDE.
The FIDE has made it clear that it will not permit the tour to have a world championship match as that might stay solely its area.
Kasparov has been effusive in his reward of India’s present crop of chess gamers, together with Gukesh, and described them as “Vishy’s children”, an ode to his modern and five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand.
“He [Gukesh] has plenty of room and plenty of time to improve. That’s a challenge that I am sure he is dealing with,” Kasparov stated.
The Russian nice felt that the 32-year-old Liren, who battled psychological points in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and even stopped taking part in for some time, was not at his finest throughout the mega-event in Singapore.
“Ding at his best against Magnus… that would be a match! But then COVID ruined him. Ding after COVID was just a different player, still very tenacious, just tons of resilience.
“Gukesh was simply rising after he received the Candidates. Everything can occur in a world championship match because it is a lengthy match. But Gukesh was all the time forward. Ding fought heroically, he practically saved the match. But I believe it is a outcome that is justified. Gukesh was a greater participant,” Kasparov conceded.
Published – May 14, 2025 04:15 am IST
