Praggnanandhaa on Olympiad debate: ‘Don’t mind even being reserve player’

Srinath Narayanan shared photographs of the Indian chess team, smiling at their computer screens, after an enthusiastic and enjoyable pre-Olympiad camp. Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri inquired about the duration of the camp, the number of hours dedicated daily, and which openings were discussed. The team's top three contenders for board one in the upcoming Olympiad are Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Arjun Erigaisi.

Gukesh is the reigning world champion but has recently seen a slump in form, while Praggnanandhaa has been in excellent form, winning Norway Chess and the Grand Chess Tour Finals. Arjun is currently India's top-rated player and is ranked 9th in the world. The position of board one is crucial as it often includes the strongest players from each team.

In an interview following his victory at the Grand Chess Tour Final, Praggnanandhaa stated that he had not received any specific information about the board one decision. Instead, he expressed that he is open to any role, including being a reserve player, as long as the team wins.