New Delhi: The five-time world champions Magnus Carlsen has made his position clear ahead of the upcoming World Chess Championship, backing Javakhir Sindarov to beat reigning champion de Gokash in what promises to be a historic encounter later this year.Speaking at a chess event in Stockholm, Carlsen did not shy away from naming his favourites, while acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the title match. “At this point it’s impossible not to call Sandroff… we know anything can happen in a world championship match,” he said.The Norwegian great went further in his assessment and pointed out the contrast in the game of the two young stars. “Gakesh has very obvious weaknesses… Sandroof does not. He’s so much better,” Carlson added, firmly tilting the narrative in favor of the Uzbek prodigy.Also read: Formation of India’s 95th GM: Arunayak Ghosh, from next tournament fees to parental relief Sandroof’s historic rise is on the rise.Sandrov’s rapid ascent has made even the biggest names in chess take notice. The 20-year-old arrives at the World Championships after a stunning victory at the Candidates tournament, where he dominated the field and went undefeated.His tally of 10/14 was the highest in the modern candidate format, surpassing the benchmarks set by elite names including Karlsson himself. The draw against Wei Yi sealed a campaign that many are already hailing as one of the greatest in the history of the tournament.Carlson is not alone in his view. Former world champion Garry Kasparov Sundaroff also leans in, calling him the “clear favourite” based on current form, although he cautioned about the unique pressure of a 14-game title match. Gokesh’s flexibility is still a factor.Despite the growing chorus in support of Sandroof, it would be premature to write off Gokesh. The Indian teenager, who claimed the crown in 2024, has built a reputation for resilience and mental toughness.Kasparov highlighted this strength, saying that Gokesh is “very mentally stable… able to defend any position and find resources even in the worst situations.”The clash between Sundarov and Gokesh will be a generational clash – both players are just 20 years old – and the youngest World Championship match in history.
