'A Chess Revolution Has Begun In India', Says Magnus Carlsen

Five-time world champion and the number one chess player in the world, Magnus Carlsen is amazed at the "huge interest" in the sport in India and says this is the "beginning of a revolution", which was started by the legendary Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen, considered one of the strongest exponents of the game, is currently playing for SG Alpine Warriors in the Global Chess League (GCL) here, and says that India producing Grandmasters so frequently bodes well for the future of the sport.

India, of late, has produced the likes of the young R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh, among others, who have beaten some of the biggest names in the world, including Carlsen.

"It's awesome to see the huge interest in chess in India and there is a huge number of young players who are taking over the sport. I think we are just at the beginning of a revolution that started with Viswanathan Anand becoming a Grandmaster," said the 32-year-old Carlsen.

"I think it will only get better from here as India's producing Grandmasters more frequently than before. There's a lot to look forward to," he said in a release on Wednesday.

Anand, a former five-time world champion, is a pioneer of the sport in India, becoming the first GM from the country in 1988. While the 53-year-old still continues to play competitively, he is also inspiring youngsters in India to aim for glory.

Carlsen's confidence in Indian players is such that he has three of them in his GCL side Alpine Warriors -- Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh.

Carlsen, being the leader of Alpine Warriors, says the boys are so good they don't need much guidance from him.

"Well, they're really good. So, I'm just trying to let them do their thing and then answer any questions they might