Grandmaster Richard Rapport Praises Gukesh and Indian Chess Surge

Hungarian Grandmaster Richard Rapport, one of only two players to draw against India's chess phenom D Gukesh in the Chess Olympiad, admires India's rise in chess but hesitates to call Gukesh the world title favorite. Rapport sees the November-December showdown as a tough challenge due to Ding Liren's experience.

Hungarian Grandmaster Richard Rapport, one of the select few to draw against the relentless D Gukesh in the Chess Olympiad, hailed India's spectacular ascent in chess, yet stopped short of declaring the 18-year-old as the outright favorite for the world title.

Rapport cited the upcoming November-December world championship, which promises to be an entirely different challenge on the difficulty scale, especially with seasoned competitor Ding Liren as Gukesh's formidable opponent.

Currently, Gukesh basks in the glory of India's historic Olympiad gold in Budapest, where he remained unbeaten with eight wins and two draws. Rapport, who once triumphed over Gukesh in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL), eagerly anticipates their upcoming clash next month in London. Rapport's reverence came with words of caution, pointing out the invaluable experience Liren brings to the table, suggesting a tight contest ahead.

(With inputs from agencies.)