‘Complete nonsense’: Nihal Sarin on Dutch No. 1 Anish Giri ‘drawish’ tag before Candidates - Exclusive

NEW DELHI: As the chess satellite descends upon Cyprus for the 2026 Candidates, the sanction Anish Giri continues to beryllium synonymous with a singular, frustrating representation from the past. 14 draws successful 14 games.

That legendary tally successful the 2016 Candidates birthed the "King of Draws" moniker for the existent Dutch No. 1.But arsenic the 31-year-old eyes the Candidates crown 10 years later, and with it the close to situation Dommaraju Gukesh, Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin points retired that "Drwaish Giri" is simply a bushed stereotype that ignores the realities of elite chess."I very, precise powerfully judge that radical saying Anish is simply a drawish subordinate is implicit nonsense, honestly," Nihal told TimesofIndia.com successful an exclusive interrogation connected the eve of the tournament.

"I judge he’s a immense fighter, actually. The gully happening is decidedly a spot of a myth."

The "myth" of the Draw KingGiri himself is good alert of the narrative. Speaking astir his mentation to TimesofIndia.com, the Dutch No. 1 revealed the unsocial hurdles of a Candidates cycle, noting that helium had to hold to prosecute seconds (coaching assistants) due to the fact that his apical choices were truthful bully they ended up qualifying for the tourney themselves.

"I recognize truly good what makes a bully 2nd due to the fact that that 2nd was truthful bully helium became my opponent," Giri joked.

Nihal points to Giri’s triumph astatine the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss, wherever helium finished unbeaten (with 5 wins and six draws) to suffice for this precise event, arsenic impervious of his winning intent."To triumph the tourney by fractional a point, helium intelligibly did triumph a just fewer games arsenic well," Nihal noted. "A batch of draws hap erstwhile apical players are clashing due to the fact that that is what chess is. If some play to their implicit potential, it volition beryllium a draw. Chess is similar that only"Nihal’s Candidates 2026 predictionWhile galore experts are hyper-focused connected Fabiano Caruana oregon Hikaru Nakamura, Nihal Sarin’s valuation of the 2026 tract suggests a overmuch much volatile "open" race.While helium respects the established American giants, helium threw a spotlight connected Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov."If I had to marque a guess, possibly Fabi oregon Sindu [Sindarov]," Nihal told this website. "Sindarov is having a large twelvemonth truthful acold and playing immoderate astonishing chess. And of course, if Pragg has a bully event, past absolutely. You tin besides ne'er number Hikaru out."Nihal besides cautioned against sidelining the two-time European Champion, Matthias Bluebaum.

While immoderate telephone Bluebaum's benignant pragmatic, Nihal sees a unsafe trap."He’s insanely bully astatine being benignant of safe. Not drawish, but safe. He is highly bully astatine punishing if opponents effort to spell berserk against him. That is simply a precise astute mode of winning games," Nihal remarked.A intimately packed women’s fieldTurning his attraction to the Women’s Candidates, Nihal believes the tourney is adjacent much unpredictable than the Open section."I truly wouldn't beryllium amazed astatine each whoever wins. I deliberation everyone tin bushed everyone there," helium said.However, helium leaned toward acquisition arsenic the deciding factor."I would conjecture astir apt Aleksandra Goryachkina oregon Tan Zhongyi is apt to triumph due to the fact that they person done it before. I judge it's a spot easier having that belief, that due to the fact that you person done it before, you tin bash it again."As the marathon begins connected Saturday, reputations similar "Drawish Giri" oregon "underdog Bluebaum" mean precise little. In Nihal's words, "Absolutely everybody tin win."