Prague, February 25
World Champion D Gukesh has categorically stated that the problems around cheating in chess are made to be bigger than their existence.
Speaking during a press conference for the Prague International festival, Gukesh said he did not support Vladimir Kramnik, a former world champion who has been infamously levelling charges against quite a few chess players, suspecting cheating during online games.
“Obviously, I’m against any kind of unfair or unethical play,” “It’s a kind of problem that we have been seeing lately,” Gukesh said.
The whole world had stood out for Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky of America, who died at a young age of just 29 years. Naroditsky was a famous content creator in chess who appeared to be very emotional in his last stream just days before his untimely death.
Gukesh is not the only one to join the bandwagon, as earlier World number one Magnus Carlsen, FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich, and Indian stars Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin had also criticised Kramnik as his allegations could not be substantiated with any definite proof.
Speaking about the forthcoming Candidates tournament, Gukesh said he did not believe in favourites and that he would love to play fellow city-mate R Praggnanandhaa.
Meanwhile, in the first round of the super tournament, Gukesh will face Hans Moke Niemann of the United States, another player who has fought his way to the top level of chess. Niemann is a dangerous customer and Gukesh likes to go for complex play, which ensures a fighting beginning for the World Champion.
The other Indian in the fray, Aravindh Chithambaram, will take on Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, a recent winner of the Tata Steel Masters.
PTI
