India has a strong hand, as the world champion, Gukesh Dommaraju (ineligible to qualify), is joined by the world No 4, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, the world No 5, Arjun Erigaisi, and the world No 27, Vidit Gujrathi, who won the 2023 Grand Swiss in Douglas, Isle of Man. Could this be the tournament where Gukesh finally proves himself a worthy world champion after several disappointments? The $230,000 Women’s Grand Swiss is also under way, and in that event round one proved a real shocker. A video has emerged of Bobby Fischer being crowned as world champion in 1972 at the end of his historic match in Reykjavik against Boris Spassky. As the Fide president, Dr Max Euwe, himself a former world champion, hands him the gold medal, Fischer says: “There is no name on it.” Euwe replies: “They did not know it,” and they both laugh.
