World Champion Gukesh to take on Carlsen in opening round of Norway Chess

Stavanger: Possessing the ability to trump the fiercest rivals in the classical chess style, world champion D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi will spearhead India's challenge at the Norway Chess tournament, where they will compete against the likes of Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura from Monday.

Gukesh will take on world No.1 Carlsen in the opening round in what should be one of the most keenly-contested matches in the tournament, while first-timer Erigaisi will open his campaign against Wei Yi of China.

In the women’s section, two-time World Rapid champion Koneru Humpy will play country-mate R Vaishali in the first round.

Norway Chess, comprising of six players in the men's and women's sections and played in a double round-robin format, is one of the most prestigious events on the chess calendar.

This is the first time India have two players in the men’s section, raising hopes of going all the way and clinching a maiden title for India in the tournament, which was first played in 2013. At that time, it featured 10 of the best players in the field, including five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand.

Anand, who has played the tournament more than half-a-dozen times and finished runner-up in 2015, had recently said that he expected a "very exciting battle" as both Gukesh and Erigaisi will not lack motivation or the determination to go after five-time world champion Carlsen, who has won half a dozen titles here.

The presence of four Indians in the field also speaks about the growth of chess in the country though the task of getting past the likes of Carlsen and American Grandmasters Nakamura and the Chinese women's duo of Ju Wenjun and Lie Tingjie is easier said than done.

Nakamura is ranked second in the world behind Carlsen and is one of the most difficult customers if the game goes into the Armageddon format in the event of a stalemate.

Both Gukesh (world No.3) and Erigaisi (No.4) are ranked below him and it would require immense grit and endurance to break through the defence of local hero Carlsen and Nakamura.

Gukesh, following his world title-winning feat against China’s Ding Liren in Singapore last year, is searching for this elusive title.

He struggled in the Freestyle chess tournament in Paris and lost the Tata Steel Masters title to countrymate R Praggnanandhaa earlier this year. The Chennai teenager also could not put up an impressive show in the Superbet Classic in Bucharest recently, with Praggnanandhaa winning the title.

While Gukesh has seen a big slump since his world title-winning feat, Praggnanandhaa has been on fire this year. But, it’s only a matter of time before the teenager gets into his groove.

The women’s category, introduced last year, has women’s world rapid champion Koneru Humpy and R Vaishali competing for the title with Chinese heavyweights, women’s world champion Ju Wenjun and her challenger Tan Zhongyi.

Humpy’s clash with Wenjun could decide who wins the title, given that the Indian has kept the fire burning in her for more than two decades and still looks hungry for more, as was proved when she won the world rapid title on New York for a second time late last year in New York.

The tournament boasts of an equal prize money, something which very few chess events offer, and could be a motivation for the women competitors as well. The total prize fund is around USD 1,62,681.

Men: Magnus Carlsen (Nor), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), D Gukesh (Ind), Arjun Erigaisi (Ind), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Wei Yi (Chn).

Women: Ju Wenjun (Chn), Lie Tingjie (Chn), Koneru Humpy (Ind), Anna Muzychuk (Ukr), R. Vaishali (Ind), Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Esp).