The 2023 Grand Chess Tour has seen some impressive performances from young Indian Grandmasters D Gukesh and Viswanathan Anand.
Gukesh, 16, finished fifth in the third leg of the tour in Zagreb, Croatia, while Anand, 52, finished tied for seventh. Gukesh scored 25.5 points in the combined rapid and blitz event, while Anand scored 24 points.
Gukesh’s performance was particularly impressive, as he beat several top players, including Fabiano Caruana, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Ian Nepomniachtchi. He also drew with Magnus Carlsen, the world number one.
Anand also had a strong showing, despite being the oldest player in the field. He beat several top players, including Caruana and Ding Liren. He also drew with Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi.
Gukesh and Anand’s performances are a sign that Indian chess is in a good state. Both players are still young and have the potential to achieve great things in the future.
Here is a more detailed look at Gukesh and Anand’s performances in the Grand Chess Tour so far:
- Gukesh:
- Finished fifth in the third leg in Zagreb, Croatia, with 25.5 points.
- Beat Fabiano Caruana, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Ian Nepomniachtchi.
- Drew with Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren.
- Anand:
- Finished tied for seventh in the third leg in Zagreb, Croatia, with 24 points.
- Beat Fabiano Caruana and Ding Liren.
- Drew with Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi.
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The 2023 Grand Chess Tour is well underway, with three legs of the five-tournament series already completed. Fabiano Caruana and Magnus Carlsen have won the first two legs, while the third leg is currently underway in Zagreb, Croatia.
Caruana won the Superbet Chess Classic Romania in May, scoring 7.5/10 to finish half a point ahead of Carlsen. Carlsen then won the Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland in June, scoring 28/39 to finish a point ahead of Caruana.
The current standings in the Grand Chess Tour Race to Turin are as follows:
- Magnus Carlsen (225 points)
- Fabiano Caruana (220 points)
- Alireza Firouzja (190 points)
- Richard Rapport (180 points)
- Wesley So (160 points)
The future is bright for Gukesh and Anand:
Gukesh’s performances in the Grand Chess Tour are a sign that Indian chess is in a good state. He is already one of the top young players in the world. He is ranked 15th in the world and is the youngest player ever to break into the top 20. He is also the youngest player ever to win a Grand Chess Tour event, which he did in 2022.
Anand is a legend of the game. He is a five-time world champion and is still one of the top players in the world. He is ranked 13th in the world and is still capable of beating any player on his day.
Both Gukesh and Anand have the potential to achieve even greater things in the future. They are both role models for young Indian chess players and are inspiring the next generation of Indian chess stars.