In December 2023, the chess world witnessed a historic moment as an 18-year-old from Chennai, Gukesh Dommaraju, dethroned China's Ding Liren to become the youngest-ever World Chess Champion. The victory resonated globally, drawing admiration even from those in the opposition camp. Among them was Hungarian number one Richárd Rapport, who served as Ding Liren's second during that fateful World Championship match.
The Cyprus Candidates: A Different Beast in 2026
As the chess world turns its gaze towards the next pinnacle event, the Candidates Tournament 2026 scheduled for Cyprus between March 28 and April 16, Rapport believes the dynamics will differ from his own experience in 2022. Back then, Jan-Krzysztof Duda entered as the lowest-seeded player with a rating of 2750. This time, the lowest-rated in the field, according to the December list, is Javokhir Sindarov with an Elo of 2726.
Rapport highlighted the strength and experience of the current field in a conversation with TimesofIndia.com. "The likes of Hikaru (Nakamura), Fabiano (Caruana) and Anish (Giri), they are very experienced. And Pragg, you know, very young and up and coming, and he’s proven himself over and over and over," he stated, acknowledging the formidable lineup.
Experience vs. Youth: Rapport's Take on Praggnanandhaa
The conversation naturally steered towards Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, often labelled as young and inexperienced by casual observers. Rapport dismissed this notion with visible firmness. "You cannot call him inexperienced," he asserted. "Even though, you know, by age. He’s kind of been around the blocks. Pragg’s second Candidates comes at roughly the same age, or even younger, than some of these guys. It’s just insane."
He elaborated on the tournament's unique pressure, noting that preparation gaps are more visible against less experienced players, while clashes between veterans like Caruana and Nakamura often result in tight, well-known battles.
The Ironic Twist of 2022 and the Underdog's Chance
Rapport reflected on the dramatic subplot of the 2022 cycle, where Sergey Karjakin's ban for supporting the Ukraine invasion opened a door for Ding Liren. "After the first half of the Candidates cycle... the only player with absolutely no mathematical chance of qualifying was Ding," Rapport recalled. "And then at the end of the cycle, he became the champion. It’s a bit ironic."
This history, he believes, offers a lesson for the upcoming event. "It kind of gives possibilities for them (lower-seeded players) as well," he added, suggesting that opponents might take more risks against them, creating opportunities for unexpected results.
Despite his analysis, Rapport concluded with a reminder of the tournament's inherent unpredictability. "Because it’s one event, even though it’s a long event, it’s still one event at the end of the day. Anything can happen," he said. While he leans towards the experienced favourites, the story of Gukesh and Ding serves as a powerful testament that in modern chess, today's underdog can swiftly become tomorrow's king.
