Now Reading: Hikaru Nakamura: Viswanathan Anand is godfather of Indian chess
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Hikaru Nakamura: Viswanathan Anand is godfather of Indian chess
Hikaru Nakamura has hailed Viswanathan Anand as the 'godfather' of Indian chess, saying the legend 'started it all.' Speaking to Hindustan Times at the Esports World Cup in Paris, Nakamura noted that…
The Story in Brief
Hikaru Nakamura has hailed Viswanathan Anand as the 'godfather' of Indian chess, saying the legend 'started it all.' Speaking to Hindustan Times at the Esports World Cup in Paris, Nakamura noted that before Anand, there was only one Indian player in the global scene. Now, young stars like Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nihal Sarin have emerged, creating a deep bench that includes several 2600-rated talents.
Nakamura acknowledged that Indian grandmasters have struggled recently, with only Arjun showing consistency at the Chess World Cup and missing the Candidates. But he dismissed it as a red flag, pointing out that Gukesh is the youngest world champion and that players like Prag are playing well. He also credited India's positive view of chess as a career path for the boom.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that Indian chess is in a slump ignores the simple fact that the top quartet are still ranked 12th-14th globally, a position most countries would envy. The real exaggeration is treating fleeting form dips as a crisis. Nakamura's praise is measured: he calls Anand the best ever, but leaves the door open for the next generation. The true test will be whether Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, or Arjun can sustain dominance for a decade, not just a season.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
