Viswanathan Anand believes R. Vaishali has a reasonable chance against Ju Wenjun in the World Championship match.
On June 24, 2026, Anand said Vaishali's motivation could give her an edge.
What happened?
Viswanathan Anand was honoured at an SJFI event, where he shared his thoughts on Vaishali's chances.
He noted that Vaishali's rise as a challenger is an important moment for Indian women's chess.
Why it matters for Viswanathan Anand
Anand thinks Ju Wenjun is a formidable opponent, but her long reign as World champion may make it harder for her to motivate herself.
This could give Vaishali an advantage, according to Anand.
What comes next?
The title match between D. Gukesh and Javokhir Sindarov has given the India-Uzbekistan rivalry a sharper focus beyond the Olympiad.
Viswanathan Anand said India would be defending titles in the Open and women's sections at the forthcoming Olympiad.
Anand also mentioned that Uzbekistan, apart from China and the USA, would be the ones to watch out for.
He advised Gukesh to focus on playing strong chess, rather than getting caught up in the noise around being the World champion.
The key for Gukesh will be to return to the simple demands of playing strong chess, said Anand.
On June 24, 2026, Anand's comments highlighted the importance of motivation in the World Championship match.
Viswanathan Anand's thoughts on Vaishali's chances were shared on the sidelines of the SJFI event.
He was honoured at the event, where he spoke about the upcoming World Championship match.
The World Championship match between Vaishali and Ju Wenjun is highly anticipated, with Viswanathan Anand predicting a close contest.
On June 24, 2026, Anand's comments added to the excitement surrounding the match.