NEW DELHI: Five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen has made his stance clear ahead of the upcoming World Chess Championship, backing Javokhir Sindarov to defeat reigning champion D Gukesh in what promises to be a historic showdown later this year.Speaking at a chess event in Stockholm, Carlsen did not shy away from naming his favourite, even while acknowledging the unpredictable nature of a title match. “At the moment it’s impossible not to say Sindarov… we know anything can happen in a World Championship match,” he said.The Norwegian great went further in his assessment, pointing out a contrast in the two young stars’ games. “Gukesh has very obvious weaknesses… Sindarov does not. He is a lot more well-rounded,” Carlsen added, firmly tilting the narrative in favour of the Uzbek prodigy.ALSO READ: The making of India’s 95th GM: Aronyak Ghosh, from chasing next tournament’s fee to parents’ relief Sindarov’s historic rise turns headsSindarov’s rapid ascent has forced even the biggest names in chess to take notice. The 20-year-old arrives at the World Championship on the back of a stunning victory at the Candidates Tournament, where he dominated the field and finished unbeaten.His tally of 10/14 was the highest in the modern Candidates format, surpassing benchmarks set by elite names, including Carlsen himself. The composed draw against Wei Yi sealed a campaign that many are already calling one of the greatest in the tournament’s history.Carlsen is not alone in his view. Former world champion Garry Kasparov has also leaned towards Sindarov, calling him the “clear favourite” based on current form, though he cautioned about the unique pressure of a 14-game title match. Gukesh’s resilience still a factorDespite the growing chorus backing Sindarov, writing off Gukesh would be premature. The Indian teenager, who claimed the crown in 2024, has built a reputation for resilience and mental toughness.Kasparov highlighted this strength, noting that Gukesh is “very mentally stable… able to defend any position and find resources even in the worst situations.”The clash between Sindarov and Gukesh will be a generational duel — both players just 20 — and the youngest World Championship match in history.
