[ad_1]
IMAGE: Younger Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa. {Photograph}: Worldwide Chess Federation/Twitter
India’s newest chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa might have fallen in need of his World Cup title goals, happening to Magnus Carlsen within the last, however the 18-year-old prodigy on Sunday asserted that the five-time world champion Norwegian was “removed from invincible”.
Praggnanandhaa had a dream World Cup run in Baku final month when he turned the youngest ever finalist and within the course of certified for the Candidates match in 2024 the place the winner will face China’s Ding Liren within the World Championship.
The Indian teenager is the third youngest participant after Bobby Fischer and Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates match.
“It isn’t like he (Carlsen) is invincible,” Praggnanandhaa mentioned of Carlsen in an unique interview with PTI.
As a matter of truth, the Chennai boy has gained over Carlsen 5 occasions, however all of them got here in on-line matches. He has by no means overwhelmed the Norwegian world primary in a board match.
“He is undoubtedly sturdy. However, he does lose video games. It is simply I feel he is constant in successful. Would not lose many, that is why. He is simply sturdy, mentally and bodily. Mainly sturdy in all the pieces.”
As of now, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana and Praggnanandhaa have certified the Candidates match whereas 5 extra spots are nonetheless up for grabs and shall be determined by the top of this yr.
Praggnanandhaa mentioned he is not going to place any added strain on him and he desires to take the Candidates as some other match.
“I do not assume it will be added strain. I simply need to take it as one other match. In case you assume it is crucial, then you definitely begin placing added strain. I simply need to play like how I play within the final three tournaments,” he mentioned.
‘World Cup last, a small step’
IMAGE: Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in motion in opposition to Magnus Carlsen within the first speedy tie-break recreation within the FIDE Chess World Cup last. {Photograph}: Stev bonhage/FIDE
The success of the Indians on the World Cup — the place 4 of them made the quarterfinals — has raised expectations of one other world champion rising from the nation after five-time winner Viswanathan Anand.
“There may be much more to realize in chess for me. This is only one small step, however nonetheless an excellent one,” Praggnanandhaa mentioned.
Carlsen has already pulled out of the race to turn out to be a world champion once more.
Requested whether or not that may make the sphere simpler, Praggnanandhaa mentioned: “Probably not, everybody else can be very sturdy. It isn’t like it should be simple or something.”
“Candidates goes to be a extremely sturdy occasion. It requires not solely chess side however it’s important to be in good condition to combat, bodily and mentally.”
“To win a world championship, it’s worthwhile to be bodily and mentally very, very sturdy. I do not assume as a result of Magnus will not be there it will make it simpler. It could be very robust. I am simply hoping to provide my greatest and see the way it goes,” he mentioned on his Candidates preparation.
‘Badminton, lengthy stroll maintain me match’
A badminton and cricket fan, Praggnanandhaa typically tries completely different sports activities when he is in Chennai to maintain himself in form.
However when he’s enjoying a match, he typically goes for lengthy walks or interact himself in self-talking “to de-stress”.
“I attempt to play badminton once I’m in Chennai. In the course of the match, I attempt to go for walks. One or one other to maintain myself in form. Any sport which doesn’t injure me, I play that.”
“It’d sound unusual, however I speak to myself to organize myself mentally. In a correct angle, it really works for me. It is completely different for everybody, so we have now to seek out our personal method in that. I attempt to be in the fitting form,” he revealed about his preparation.
A product of WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, Praggnanandhaa mentioned simply speaking to the Indian chess wizard (Anand) boosts his confidence.
“It has helped me loads. I’ve discovered loads discussing chess with him (Anand). Discussing chess, aside from the technical points like speaking about psychological issues as properly.”
“Normally, talking to him offers you plenty of confidence. Figuring out that you’re working with a five-time world champion and one of many best of the sport, he has helped me loads by means of WACA,” he mentioned.
Only a day after he landed in his hometown Chennai to a rousing welcome, Praggnanandhaa needed to attend a Sports activities Ministry felicitation in Delhi. The day after, he is right here in Kolkata to attend an Asian Video games males’s camp earlier than the Indian staff heads to Hangzhou this month finish.
‘Lots of people now recognise me’
Life has turn out to be hectic after the World Cup dream run, however the 18-year-old is just not complaining.
“It (life) has modified loads within the sense that now lots of people find out about chess basically. Lots of people recognise me. It has modified in that method.”
“It is good for the sport. I feel many extra younger gamers will begin enjoying, many extra sponsors will come to the sport. So, chess changing into well-liked, as a fan, I am very glad to see that,” he mentioned.
Requested whether or not he is not getting distracted by it, he mentioned: “I am attempting to do it in order that it doesn’t have an effect on my preparation.
“I used to be eager to attend the Indian staff camp together with these gamers Arjun, Gukesh… I am simply attempting to deal with chess proper now. Up to now, it has been okay. I hope to proceed the nice work,” he signed off.
[ad_2]
Source link
