GUKESH NOT CONVINCED BY FAVOURITE TAG

In-form Indian teen is preparing for Ding at his best’ ahead of world c’ship in S’pore

- Kimberly Kwek Sports Correspondent

India's Gukesh Dommaraju has form and youth in his favour but the teenager is not paying much attention to his favourite tag in the showdown against defending champion Ding Liren at the Nov 25-Dec 13 World Chess Championship in Singapore.

The 18-year-old is coming off a starring role at September's Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where he won nine out of 10 matches to help India claim their first-ever Open title in the tournament.

In April, he became the youngest player to win the Candidates tournament to earn the chance to challenge China's Ding for the world title.

With his opponent struggling in recent times and seeing a psychologist to deal with mental health issues, several top players such as the United States' world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura have labelled Gukesh as the favourite to win at Resorts World Sentosa.

"I don't believe in these predictions on who are the favourites," the world No. 5 Gukesh said in a virtual media interview on Oct 15.

"I just think whoever is able to show up every day as the best will win the game eventually.

"I'm just focusing on the process... I just want to enjoy the experience." He is not taking his 31-year-old opponent lightly, despite the Chinese grandmaster having taken a nine-month break after becoming world champion in April 2023.