'If Sindarov beats Gukesh': Garry Kasparov hints at Magnus Carlsen’s return to World Championship cycle

The chess world may be on the brink of a fascinating twist, with legendary former world champion Garry Kasparov hinting at a scenario that could potentially bring Magnus Carlsen back into the World Championship cycle.

Kasparov recently suggested that if rising Uzbek star Javokhir Sindarov manages to defeat reigning world champion D Gukesh in their anticipated title clash, it could open the door, at least slightly for Carlsen’s return to the classical format he walked away from. Sindarov won the Candidates tournament in Cyprus without losing a single game and had taken a healthy lead by the time half the tournament had ended.




“The way he won the Candidates, it was very impressive. I must say, it’s hard to impress me. But the way Sindarov played his timing, the quality of his moves, his ability to withstand pressure and increase the pressure on his opponents was exceptional,” Kasparov said in an interview with St Louis Chess Club’s YouTube handle.

“Compared to Gukesh, if you look at the games, Sindarov looks like the clear favorite. But this match is a special format. Gukesh is very mentally stable, able to defend any position and find resources even in the worst situations. Gukesh has match experience, but for Sindarov, this will be his first serious match. Yes, it’s relatively short 14 games, we’ve played longer games before but it will still be very interesting.” he added.

Garry Kasparov throws his support for Carlsen: ''The current World Champion is 19. The challenger is only 20. But I still want to emphasize that the strongest chess player (Carlsen) is 35. With all due respect. I would love to see Sindarov playing Magnus, because Carlsen is still around. Maybe if Sindarov beats Gukesh, then there will be a chance to bring Magnus back and see how things go.''

The upcoming World Championship match between Gukesh and Sindarov already represents a generational shift in chess. Both players are among the youngest ever to compete at the highest level, signaling a new era after years dominated by Carlsen.
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