5 months ago
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Wesley So is nary alien to India. His past sojourn to the state was, successful fact, conscionable a period ago, for the Chess World Cup successful Goa.
The World No. 11 from the United States, who has besides been to Kolkata for the Tata Steel Chess India tournament, is present successful Mumbai for the Global Chess League. And helium is making his debut successful the glamorous league, the 3rd variation of which opens connected Sunday. He is playing for Mumba Masters, and helium is blessed astir it.
“Since the league is being held successful Mumbai, we are precise overmuch the location team,” So told The Hindu implicit the telephone connected Friday. “Ours is simply a large team.”
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Koneru Humpy, D. Harika and Bardiya Daneshvar are his teammates. “I person known Maxime and Shakh for a agelong time,” helium said.
“I played against Harika 17 years agone astatine Wijk aan Zee, and it was an absorbing game. And Humpy is specified a beardown subordinate and precise very experienced. It is going to beryllium an breathtaking tourney with each the teams having tons of fantabulous players. And I truly similar the conception of the Global Chess League with each its innovations. Besides, I ever bask playing successful squad events.”
So is hoping for a overmuch amended amusement arsenic a subordinate aft the disappointment of the World Cup, successful which helium was knocked retired successful the 2nd round. “I don’t privation to marque excuses for my performance, but I was a spot bushed aft playing the beardown US National title (in which I finished second),” helium said. “Yes, it is disappointing that I could not suffice for the Candidates (from the World Cup).”
He believes fellow-American Fabiano Caruana volition beryllium the favourite astatine the Candidates, to beryllium held successful Cyprus successful March-April adjacent year. The tourney volition find D. Gukesh’s challenger for the World title.
“Fabi has truthful overmuch acquisition astatine the Candidates and has besides played the World title match,” said So. “I deliberation it volition beryllium large if helium becomes the challenger, but I deliberation Praggnanandhaa besides has a beardown chance, and helium has had a large year, winning truthful galore large tournaments. In fact, a lucifer betwixt Gukesh and Pragg volition beryllium precise absorbing – 2 young Indians taking connected each other, and they person antithetic styles, too.”
