World champion D Gukesh and Indian star R Praggnanandhaa are set to lead India's charge at the prestigious Norway Chess tournament, facing a stern test of temperament and skill against an elite field.
The event, held in Oslo, features a formidable Indian contingent, including Koneru Humpy and World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh in the women's section.
However, the task will be anything but easy for the Indian quartet, with world No. 1 and home favourite Magnus Carlsen leading a formidable field that includes French star Alireza Firouzja and Germany's Vincent Keymer.
Gukesh enters the tournament carrying the weight of expectation as the player tipped to challenge Carlsen's stranglehold over Norway Chess, a competition the Norwegian legend has won a record seven times.
Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa appears better primed for the challenge after a series of impressive battles against the likes of Keymer, So and Firouzja at the recently-concluded Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest.
