Gukesh D-Magnus Carlsen verbal duels add glitz to FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships

On the eve of the World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships, top-ranked Magnus Carlsen and world classical chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju had a face off of a slightly different nature in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday.

Mind games prevailed when both Carlsen and Gukesh addressed a joint media conference, ahead of the tournament where a total of 254 players in the open and 142 women participants, will vie for honours over five days. Four world titles will be on offer.



With reigning Women’s World Champ Ju Wenjun, FIDE boss Arkady Dvorkovich, and president of Qatar Chess Mohd Al-Mudahka for company on the dias, Gukesh was modesty personified when he said he “doesn’t have much expectation and his aim is to have some fun while experimenting with various tricks.” In reply, Carlsen thundered, “I am here to win.”

Replying to a query on his sense of responsibility to perform across all formats, Gukesh said, “For me, playing well in any format is quite important. I took rapid and blitz a bit more seriously this year. Although the shorter formats have less priority than classical events for me. So in this event, I don’t have a lot of expectations. I am here to play, just experiment, enjoy playing chess.”

Carlsen will be playing for the world title after becoming a first-time parent. On his approach, the world No.1 Carlsen across all formats said, “I love being a husband and a father. It’s been a fantastic experience this year. As for now, neither my wife nor my son are too much of a help, unfortunately, in terms of chess advice yet. So, it really hasn’t changed much, and I’m here to win, as always.”

When both champions were asked how kids could be a threat to them in Doha, Gukesh said, “Youngsters are capable of playing at a high level,” and Carlsen feels Gukesh is ‘still a youngster.’

Carlsen said, “It’s not only the generation between 22 and 16 years old, it’s even younger players who have developed tremendously in a short time.”


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