Magnus Carlsen Picks Sindarov as Favourite Against Gukesh in World Championship

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen has backed Javokhir Sindarov as the favourite to win the upcoming World Chess Championship against reigning champion D Gukesh. However, the former world champion believes Gukesh should not view the contest as a burden and should instead approach it as an opportunity with everything to gain.

Gukesh is set to face Uzbekistan’s Sindarov in the World Chess Championship in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 24 to December 12. While Carlsen currently sees Sindarov as the stronger favourite, he believes the psychological nature of chess could play a major role in determining the outcome.

Carlsen argued that Gukesh should avoid thinking of himself as someone merely defending a title. According to him, the Indian grandmaster has demonstrated his ability to perform at an extremely high level, particularly when his game comes together.

Gukesh had already shown that potential during his breakthrough 2024 campaign, and Carlsen believes the upcoming championship could provide an opportunity for the Indian player to rediscover that level. He also pointed out that chess is heavily influenced by psychology, meaning an early shift in confidence could change the dynamics between the two players.

Carlsen suggested that Gukesh needs to take the initiative early in the match. If Sindarov establishes an early lead, the situation could become extremely difficult for the defending champion. On the other hand, an early advantage for Gukesh would immediately strengthen his position and make him the favourite, according to Carlsen.

While discussing the current generation of players, Carlsen also praised the younger crop of chess talent. He said the sport is in strong hands with the emerging generation and noted that players are performing well across different formats.

Carlsen also spoke about his growing preference for rapid chess compared with the classical format. He said he was interested in experimenting with different formats and argued that chess could benefit from a more universal rating system that gives greater recognition to faster games.

According to Carlsen, classical ratings have traditionally been treated as the benchmark, which has sometimes meant that tournaments without classical ratings are perceived as less significant. He believes combining different formats could create a more comprehensive way of evaluating players and make it harder for competitors to hide weaknesses.

The former world champion also reflected on how becoming a father influenced his decision regarding classical chess. Carlsen said the experience made him even more certain that he would not return to competing for the classical World Championship title.

Despite that decision, Carlsen made it clear that he has no intention of completely walking away from competitive chess. He said he continues to enjoy the game and expects to remain involved in tournaments, including classical events from time to time.

For Gukesh, the immediate focus will be the championship showdown with Sindarov. While Carlsen has identified the Uzbek challenger as the favourite, his comments also underline the opportunity available to the Indian champion: approach the match without the pressure of defending the crown and use his own high-level performances to challenge the odds.