‘Pragg has been amazing this year’

Five-time World champion Viswanathan Anand feels R. Praggnanandhaa has made a exceptional turnaround this yr, showcasing “technical excellence” in addition to sturdy “psychological resilience.”

Anand, talking on the sidelines at an occasion the place he was honoured with the Super Chennai-Icon of the Month award, additionally shared his ideas on reigning champion D. Gukesh’s dip in kind and R. Vaishali’s Candidates qualification.

Praggnanandhaa
| Photo Credit:
FIDE

“Praggnanandhaa has been amazing this year,” Anand stated. “Everything is coming together… his preparation is top-tier, and psychologically, he’s competing and pushing hard. It’s a combination of factors that are working well.

“He did struggle a bit in Tashkent but his approach to each game — the calculated risks he takes, match strategy and how he adjusts to each opponent — has improved.”

Shifting his focus to Gukesh, the 55-year-old admitted that the 19-year-old was going by a tough patch and known as it a studying curve. “He’s certainly having a bumpy run at the moment. I was optimistic after Norway, but it’s been a bit tougher since then. At this level, you either play well or you don’t — that’s all. Gukesh is adjusting, learning, and adapting to the pressures of being the World champion. That, in itself, is a new and demanding experience.”

Gukesh
| Photo Credit:
FIDE

What has impressed Anand probably the most about Gukesh is the mindset and willingness to maintain combating. “I really appreciate the fact that he’s not hiding from new challenges. He’s continuing to push himself and that’s what matters. He has a whole year ahead to prepare, improve and defend his crown. His current form will not define where he will be next year.

About Vaishali, who won the FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand recently, Anand said: “She made a remarkable recovery after the tournament in Chennai. I think she felt more relaxed and free. Sometimes, when the pressure is off, you just start playing better… that’s exactly what happened with her. It was a fantastic result and qualifying for the Candidates is a great achievement.”