Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand believes that this year’s World Chess Championship could be held in Chennai—but only if young Indian star R Praggnanandhaa qualifies by winning the Candidates Tournament. Anand feels such a match would be emotionally intense, especially if Praggnanandhaa faces reigning world champion D Gukesh.
Praggnanandhaa’s Big Chance at the Candidates Tournament
The 20-year-old Praggnanandhaa is one of eight players competing in the Candidates Tournament scheduled for March–April. He earned his place after delivering strong performances across eligible FIDE tournaments in 2025. Both Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh have been mentored by Anand, making the potential clash even more special.
Players Competing in the Candidates Tournament
| Player | Country |
|---|---|
| Fabiano Caruana | USA |
| Hikaru Nakamura | USA |
| Anish Giri | Netherlands |
| Wei Yi | China |
| Javokhir Sindarov | Uzbekistan |
| Andrey Esipenko | Russia |
| Matthias Blübaum | Germany |
| R Praggnanandhaa | India |
Anand: “It Won’t Be a Normal Match”
Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, where he was promoting his book Lightening Kid: 64 Winning Lessons from the Boy Who Became Five-Time World Champion, Anand explained why an all-Indian title match would be different.
According to him, whoever wins the Candidates Tournament grows mentally and becomes far more dangerous in the World Championship. If Praggnanandhaa qualifies, the match against Gukesh would carry heavy emotional weight because both players share similar training backgrounds and environments.
Anand added that such a contest could even be hosted in Chennai, a city deeply connected with Indian chess history.
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Chennai’s Strong World Championship Legacy
Chennai has hosted the World Chess Championship before:
- 2013: Anand vs Magnus Carlsen
- 2000 (Delhi): Anand vs Alexei Shirov
Anand believes a Praggnanandhaa vs Gukesh match in Chennai would revive that legacy and bring global attention back to Indian chess.
Why Other Matchups Would Feel Different
Anand explained that while a title match against players like Caruana or Nakamura would also be exciting, it wouldn’t have the same emotional intensity. He noted that American players tend to bring mind games and rivalry, while matchups against other contenders would feel more neutral.
In short, only an all-Indian clash would create the kind of emotional “noise” that fans and players would truly feel.
Anand on Competing, Mentorship, and Motivation
Although Anand now calls himself semi-retired, he said he still plays because he loves competition. Instead of traveling year-round, he prefers to carefully select tournaments that excite him.
He also spoke warmly about his bond with the younger generation, including R Vaishali and Arjun Erigaisi. Despite the huge age gap, Anand treats them as equals on the chessboard, valuing good ideas over seniority.
“You Can’t Play Chess Just for Fun”
Anand was refreshingly honest about the emotional side of professional chess. He admitted that losing games makes him deeply unhappy, no matter how beautiful the location. Winning, on the other hand, brings instant joy—even in the worst conditions.
He stressed that anger after defeat is natural and important. Without that fire, a player stops being competitive.
Remembering Fierce Rivalries
In his playing days, Anand avoided social interaction with rivals like Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik during tournaments. Everything felt intense and personal. Only after matches ended could friendships slowly form.
Interestingly, Anand now enjoys a friendly relationship with Kasparov—something that once seemed impossible.
The dates and venue of the World Chess Championship are yet to be announced. But if Praggnanandhaa wins the Candidates Tournament, Indian chess fans may witness a historic, emotional title clash—possibly right in Chennai.
