Defending world chess champion Ding Liren has conceded that his Indian challenger, D Gukesh, is the favorite to win their upcoming title showdown in November. Liren’s admission comes as Gukesh has been in impressive form at the ongoing 45th Chess Olympiad, leading the Indian team to five consecutive victories.
“I can see my opponent (Gukesh) playing extremely well in this tournament. Maybe he is a favorite in the World Championship Match. He also has a higher rating than me,” Liren said in an interview with the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Liren, who won the world crown in May 2022, has struggled for form in the past year. He took a break from the game due to depression and returned to action earlier this year at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, finishing ninth.
Gukesh, on the other hand, has been on a meteoric rise. He became the youngest challenger to the world title at the age of 17 after winning the Candidates tournament in April.
The two will clash in Singapore from November 20 to December 15 for the coveted title and a prize fund of USD 2.50 million. Should Gukesh prevail, he would become the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the title.
Liren acknowledged the possibility of a close battle between India and China for the gold medal in the Olympiad. “We are two very strong teams. We have a chance to fight for the gold medal,” he said.
Gukesh, however, remained cautious, saying that all participating teams are strong. “All countries are strong, we have to come everyday with the right spirit…We have a nice mood in the team, it’s enjoyable,” he said.
