In a roller-coaster of emotions on the chessboard at Baku, India’s aspirations of seeing three of its own in the FIDE World Cup semifinals were dashed with bittersweet outcomes. A tournament that had the Indian chess scene abuzz with excitement met its fair share of ups and downs on August 16, as the formidable Magnus Carlsen quashed Gukesh D’s hopes and local favourite Nijat Abasov stunned Vidit Gujrathi with a shocking victory.
In the Chess cosmos, and amidst the heartbreak, a glimmer of hope remains alive for the Indian Chess community. R Praggnanandhaa, showcasing exceptional mettle, orchestrated a brilliant victory over compatriot Arjun Erigaisi, pushing the contest into an exhilarating tiebreaker showdown.
The twist of fate offers solace to the Indian camp as the victor in the Praggnanandhaa-Erigaisi duel is destined for a coveted spot in the 2024 Candidates Tournament. This opportunity emerged after the enigmatic five-time world champion, Magnus Carlsen, surprisingly announced his decision to abstain from contention for a World Championship final spot for the second consecutive time.
Carlsen’s proclamation sent shockwaves through the Chess community. “Under the current format of the World Championships, there is absolutely no chance,” declared the Chess titan. His announcement opened the doors for an unexpected entrant into the race for the ultimate chess throne.
While Carlsen steers his course towards the semifinals, the wider narrative revolves around the trio of Chess gladiators emerging triumphant in the FIDE World Cup to claim the prestigious spots at the forthcoming Candidates Tournament. The victor there will vie for challenging China’s reigning champion, Ding Liren.
The Indian chess saga saw a captivating clash between the young prodigy Gukesh D and Magnus Carlsen. Gukesh’s audacious endeavour to outwit the Norwegian maestro provided moments of nail-biting tension. As Carlsen was pushed to the brink, the tantalizing prospect of an upset hung in the air. Despite being a pawn down in the endgame, Carlsen’s resilience shone through, culminating in an ultimately fair draw after a 59-move battle.
Vidit Gujrathi’s path to the semifinals faced an unexpected roadblock, as Nijat Abasov seized upon a single error to orchestrate a well-calculated assault on Vidit’s position. A seemingly innocuous move to castle on the queen’s side proved costly for Gujrathi, leading to a stunning checkmate orchestrated by Abasov. The event left the Indian chess luminary lamenting the missed opportunity and prompted the legendary Viswanathan Anand to acknowledge Abasov’s hometown advantage.
Abasov himself acknowledged the advantages of playing on familiar terrain. “Playing at home has inspired him!” tweeted Anand, in response to Abasov’s sensational performance.
In the midst of these triumphs and setbacks, the spotlight now turns to the tense showdown between Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi. The gripping narrative unfolds against the backdrop of camaraderie, as friends turned foes battle for supremacy.
Praggnanandhaa’s triumph will bring him face to face with the formidable Fabiano Caruana in the semifinals, while the Chess world waits with bated breath to see which Indian Chess sensation will seize the once-in-a-lifetime chance at the coveted Candidates Tournament.
As the battle-hardened Carlsen confidently marches into the last four, a Chess symphony of determination, strategy, and audacity continues to unfold on the hallowed boards of Baku. While the hopes of a nation suffered setbacks, the resolute spirit of India’s Chess elite ensures that the game’s pulse still beats strong.