Viswanathan Anand Celebrates Chess Boom in India Amid Rising Young Talents

Anand Applauds Chess Popularity in India

Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand has shared his excitement regarding the increasing popularity of chess in India, crediting this growth to the emergence of young prodigies like R Praggnanandhaa and Dommaraju Gukesh.

Anand noted that these young stars have significantly contributed to engaging fans and maintaining enthusiasm for the game.

"For any sport to thrive, it requires players who excel and create captivating moments for the audience. Fortunately, Pragg and Gukesh are doing just that," Anand remarked.

Anand's Optimism for Chess in India

As a longstanding ambassador for Indian chess, Anand believes the sport is experiencing an extraordinary surge in the country. Young players are not only achieving remarkable results on the global stage but are also making chess a topic of mainstream discussion.

"I am very pleased," he expressed, adding, "The game is not only growing robustly, but more individuals are also getting chances to discuss it and showcase the dramatic aspects of this sport. It's truly wonderful."

With talents like Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa pushing their limits and taking on top-tier competitors, the outlook for Indian chess appears exceptionally bright.

Gukesh's Match Against Nakamura

In the earlier Round 8 of Norway Chess 2025, several thrilling matches took place. A notable game featured Hikaru Nakamura competing against reigning World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh, as reported by Norway Chess.

Nakamura took control early in the match with a fierce attack. While Gukesh had successfully defended against strong opponents in his previous two games, this time Nakamura managed to break through and secure a victory.