In a recent Global Chess League match, world champion D Gukesh opted for the Sicilian opening while playing black against his mentor, Viswanathan Anand. Despite Anand being semi-retired, he demonstrated his enduring competitive spirit, leading his team, Ganges Grandmasters, to a 12-3 victory over Gukesh’s PBG Alaskan Knights, forcing Gukesh to resign in 45 moves.
The Sicilian Defence, favored by renowned players like Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer, begins with 1.e4 c5, aiming to disrupt symmetry and create a dynamic position. Recently, Gukesh chose the Kan Variation of the Sicilian in a match against ‘Vishy sir’, reminiscent of the 2014 World Championship match against Magnus Carlsen.
Eleven years ago, Anand faced the Kan Variation of the Sicilian Defence in Game 6, where he was overtaken by the Norwegian, who ultimately won the match. Reflecting on his recent victory over Gukesh, Anand remarked that while he didn’t anticipate encountering the Kan Variation, he had mentally prepared for it prior to the tournament.
In a chess match, Anand initially held a slight advantage over Gukesh until the 34th move, when a rook mistake by Anand shifted the advantage to Gukesh. Subsequently, Anand’s position improved continuously on both the evaluation bar and the clock. The tournament rules allowed only a two-second increment per move after the 40th, which proved inadequate for Gukesh, a calculation-focused player, to find a way out.
At the recent FIDE World Cup in Goa, the Sicilian opening was the most favored choice, played in 77 games, surpassing the Ruy Lopez (63 games) and the Italian (62 games). Notably, it was also used in a critical tiebreak match between Uzbek players Nodirbek Yakubboev and Javokhir Sindarov.
On Tuesday, Gukesh, a 19-year-old chess player, aimed for a statement victory but faced challenges in 2025, winning infrequently after a successful 2024. His recent loss to Anand marked his second defeat in three GCL games, with the other game resulting in a draw. Conversely, this victory was Anand’s first in the tournament after two prior losses.
Anand and Gukesh, the two Indian chess world champions, recently faced each other again, having previously met at an event in Zagreb. Anand noted Gukesh’s shift from a playful demeanor to a more serious approach. Gukesh had anticipated this match, reminding Anand of its date at a recent social gathering. Anand acknowledged the heightened drama and attention that such a matchup attracts.
