Carlsen on Gukesh: Ill method it like Im taking part in one of many weaker gamers

The fast and blitz match, which received underway on Wednesday, incorporates a star-studded, 10-player discipline – together with three of the world’s prime 5. Praggnanandhaa R – winner of the Bucharest leg – is the opposite Indian in competition.

Carlsen and Gukesh will meet 3 times through the occasion, between July 3 to six – as soon as in fast, and twice in blitz. On July 3, Gukesh will sit throughout from Carlsen for the primary time since his win in Round 6 of Norway Chess – a victory that went viral on social media after the Norwegian’s visibly anguished response – thumping the desk and sending the items scattering – after a dramatic blunder and loss from a profitable place. It was additionally the primary time Carlsen had misplaced to the Indian teenager in a classical sport.

“I believe Gukesh performed fairly nicely right here final time, but it surely stays to be confirmed that he’s probably the greatest gamers on this format,” Carlsen mentioned. “We have a really, very sturdy discipline…Gukesh hasn’t achieved something to point that he’s going to do nicely in such a match. I hope, for his sake, that he can do higher. But taking part in him on this match, I’ll method it as if I’m taking part in one of many presumably weaker gamers (within the match).”

Asked to call the match’s prime contenders, Carlsen referred to as Alireza Firouzja a transparent “second favorite”: “If I’m in good condition, it would take one thing particular to beat me.”

On the eve of the match, former world champion Garry Kasparov provided Gukesh a number of phrases of recommendation: “The second you cease enhancing, really, the second you cease interested by enhancing – it’s over. I stayed on prime for thus lengthy as a result of I knew that the primary opponent is your individual excellence… The second you relaxation, you realize it gained’t take lengthy to say no.”

Reflecting on the months since his title win, Gukesh spoke about taking time to regulate to the burden of expectations: “Now I’ve form of settled into the brand new life… I’m again to specializing in working exhausting and being my finest self in each match.”

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