Gukesh clear favourite to be world champ: Magnus

Magnus Carlsen is at peace. A clutch of prodigious Indian teens are at the chess world No 1's heels on the ratings board.

- Susan Ninan

Carlsen even sees them overtaking him in a couple of years, but he's at peace.

One of the pack, 18-year-old D Gukesh, will face China's Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship later this month. Gukesh, ranked 5th and rated 2783, is the clear favourite for the marquee event, Carlsen told HT in an interview on Tuesday, throwing his weight behind the grandmaster from Chennai who has stunned the chess world with rapid strides over the past couple of years.

"He's playing the World Championship at 18 in what might seem like a fun experience. But there's more than one billion people expecting him to win, so, I think even he cannot help but be somewhat affected by that, at least at the start," added Carlsen, 33, who is in Kolkata for the Tata Steel Chess Tournament to be held from November 13 to 17.

Still, it will be the biggest moment of Gukesh's career, and he will feel the pressure, warned the Norwegian.