OSLO: India’s reigning World Champion D Gukesh will have a significant chance to rediscover his form before defending his crown at the highly anticipated Norway Chess tournament scheduled to kick off on Monday.
With a tough six players to beat in what should prove a testing match of character and prowess, the teen chess star must prepare himself for another grueling experience in the Norwegian capital city of Oslo.
This year, the super-tournament has adopted a brand new setting in Oslo at the famous Deichman Bjørvika public library right next to the Oslofjord waterfront. The move is especially crucial for India’s Gukesh, who has had quite the roller-coaster ride in the last year, finishing sixth at the Grand Chess Tour’s Rapid & Blitz in Poland earlier this year. As he prepares to defend his world champion title later this year in six months’ time against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, this should prove another chance for Gukesh to get back into rhythm.
Norway Chess Moves to Oslo: For its 14th edition, Norway Chess is making a move from Stavanger to Oslo by adopting a unique public library venue similar to the absolute silence needed in grandmaster chess games.
It is a challenge of mammoth proportions that faces Gukesh. First up, the open category will feature the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen, who holds the distinction of winning the tournament seven times. Alongside him, there are:
- R Praggnanandhaa, the other rising star from India, who comes into the competition with good form.
- French chess wizard Alireza Firouzja.
- German number one Vincent Keymer.
- American chess grandmaster Wesley So.
Gukesh may not have been performing well lately, he holds an upper hand over Carlsen considering their recent bout where he managed to defeat the latter through an outstanding classical finish at the tournament last year.
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