The last two years have been most productive for Indian chess in terms of the interest the game generated and the success many players from the country enjoyed with chess finally reaching the heights where it has become a full-time career sport now.
The fact that there are no Indians left to fight for glory in the FIDE World Cup may have its implications on Arjun Erigaisi, or even Praggnanandhaa, but these two can only come back stronger from the current situation with age on their side.
Though it will remain unannounced till January, Praggnanandhaa will most probably make it to the Candidates, but unlike the last time, will be the only Indian flagbearer in the premier biennial event. In the last event, D Gukesh and Vidit Gujrathi had also qualified and the former had famously become the youngest ever world champion at just 18.
While all eyes will be on Praggnanandhaa, Arjun also has his task cut out as he will go and take on Magnus Carlsen and other elite company in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam slated to be held in Capetown in less than three weeks. After that, Arjun and Praggnanandhaa will both participate in the World Rapid and Blitz, for which Carlsen is also likely to give his consent.
The busy season for the Indian giants Gukesh, Arjun and Praggnanandhaa, will take a temporary break only in January after the traditional Tata Steel tournament where all three of them are going to participate.
Meanwhile, in the World Cup, the stage is set for three newcomers to secure a slot in the Candidates as the last four remaining players have never played this top event. In the all-Uzbek contest, the scales are titled in favour of Javokhir Sindarov, who said he would be most delighted if both he and his opponent Nodirbek Yakubboev could qualify from here. That can happen if the losing semifinalist from this contest wins the match for the third place in the last round.
In the other semifinal, Andrey Esipenko and Wei Yi will clash, and given his proficiency in the faster version of the game, Wei Yi will start as the favourite if the match is extended to shorter version. However, Esipenko has shown here that he has steely nerves and it will be a match to watch out for the chess buffs.
Quarterfinal results:
Nodirbek Yakubboev (Uzb) beat Alexander Donchenko (Ger) 1.5-0.5; Arjun Erigaisi (Ind) lost to Wei Yi (Chn) 1.5-2.5; Andrey Esipenko (Fid) beat Sam Shankland (Usa) 4-2; Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb) beat Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara 3.5-2.5.
Also read: India’s challenge at FIDE World Cup ends
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