KOLKATA: The fourth edition of the Tata Steel Chess India is likely to see a battle of the next generation with some of the world’s best rising talent crossing swords over the next six days at the Bhasha Bhawan in the National Library of India campus.
Indian youngsters D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and R Praggnanandhaa will have their task cut out against reigning world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan and Iran’s former world junior champion Parham Maghsoodloo. Interestingly all these players, showing promises to go the distance, are in their early 20s.
“For so many years I was the only Indian player in the top-100. But now there are probably six or seven,” country’s first GM Viswanathan Anand said after the draw ceremony on Monday. “I see the tournament as India’s best against the world’s best,” he stated.
The youngsters will be joined by the US duo of reigning World Fischer Random champion Hikaru Nakamura and its former champion Wesley So (USA) along with India No. 3 Vidit Gujrathi.
This young crop of players known to act fast will enjoy the rapid and blitz formats, the former to be played over the first three days and the latter in the last two days.
With the field being so tough, world No.14 GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan joked that he would have preferred playing in the women’s section, which will make its debut with Fide celebrating the year of women in chess.
However, there will also be no easy women’s match with India No. 1 Koneru Humpy (2574) and No. 2 Harika Dronavalli (2507) along with the famous Muzychuk sisters – Anna and Mariya from Ukraine — to be seen in action.
All the women players welcomed the equal prize money for both sections.
Praggu, Bhakti to join late: Reigning Asian Continental championship R Praggnanandhaa and Chess Olympiad bronze-medal winning India team member Bhakti Kulkarni will skip the rapid and play only the blitz tournament as both will be honoured with the Arjuna award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.
While Bhakti will replace Vantika Agrawal, Praggu will fill up for Sethuraman SP, who will tie the knot after this tournament.
