Chess | Nepomniachtchi backs Sindarov for the World crown
Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi shared his thoughts on the upcoming World Chess Championship, favoring challenger Javokhir Sindarov over reigning champion Gukesh. He also discussed the unique format of the Global Chess League.
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Ian Nepomniachtchi has played the World chess championship match twice. Not even some of the world’s strongest Grandmasters could make such a claim.
He knows how challenging the long series of games in a match for a player is. Looking ahead to this year’s World title match, he feels the challenger Javokhir Sindarov starts as the favourite, but the reigning champion Gukesh still has chances.
“I wouldn’t say it is something like 80-20 in favour of Sindarov, but it would be more like 65-35,” Nepomniachtchi, who is here for the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League, told The Hindu on Tuesday.
“I believe it is important who wins first. If Gukesh manages to win one at that stage, or at least not to lose, the match could become unclear because he gets some confidence. But, if Sindarov starts with a win, it could easily turn into a snowball.”
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