‘The pressure is completely different on a world champion’: India No 1 R Praggnanandhaa on Gukesh vs Javokhir Sindarov

R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: India’s top chess player R Praggnanandhaa believes the upcoming World Chess Championship match between D Gukesh and Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov will be an interesting match, with both grandmasters bringing different strengths to the battle.Pragg also highlighted the added pressure that comes with defending a world title, saying it’s something he can’t fully understand without experiencing it himself.Speaking to ChessBase India, Praggnanandhaa said that he has known the 20-year-olds Gukesh and Sindar since their early chess years. He recalled playing against Sindarov for the first time in 2013 and facing Gukesh around the same time.He described the upcoming competition as a special occasion for their generation as it will be the first World Cup match featuring two players from their age group.“I think it’s going to be interesting,” Pragg said, adding that he’s looking forward to the competition. He also acknowledged Sindarov’s recent form but pointed out that Gukesh had put in some encouraging performances at the Olympics and appeared confident.

Pragg under pressure to be world champion

Praggnanandhaa also spoke about the expectations surrounding the world champion, explaining that the responsibility of holding the biggest chess title brings a different level of pressure.“The pressure of a world champion is completely different and I can’t answer it because I haven’t experienced it,” he said.He added that while pressure is part of any competitive player’s journey, defending a world title comes with additional expectations and responsibilities.Discussing his own position as India’s No.1 player, Pragg said that the ranking is of no particular importance to him. He pointed out that in recent months, he, Arjun Erigaisi and Gukesh have swapped the top spot.

Gukesh seeks blessings ahead of title defence

Meanwhile, reigning world champion Gukesh recently visited the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram on Wednesday ahead of his title defense against Sindarov.The championship will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 24 to December 11. Both players will be 20 years old at the start of the match, making it the youngest World Championship competition in chess history.The format will feature a maximum of 14 classic games, with the first player to reach 7.5 points becoming the champion. If the score is tied 7-7, a tiebreaker will be played on December 12.The championship also carries a total prize pool of $2.5 million, which adds to the significance of the competition.

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