NAGPUR: India’s teen chess sensation R Praggnanandhaa is looking forward to making a mark in his first super tournament in Toronto.
For his debut at the Candidates where world’s best eight players will be competing to become a challenger to world champion Ding Liren of China, the 18-year-old Praggnanandhaa qualified as the 2023 World Cup runner-up. The Chennai boy, who is the rating favourite among the Indian masters to make progress, is looking forward to clinching the lone challenger spot.
In an interview to chess.com on Wednesday, Praggnanandhaa said, “For me to win the Candidates will mean a lot. An opportunity to be in the world championship match is itself a big thing as not many people in the history got the chance to be there despite being one of the best in those times. So, it is a huge opportunity for me.”
Pragg added, “While playing Candidates, it is better we don’t think about the world championship but ultimately that is the goal of all playing here.”
The Candidates will be Pragg’s first super tournament. He said, “To win such a strong tournament, and just start with the Candidates it will be amazing.”
