Levon Aronian Interview | Gukesh is the favourite but needs to fight in every single game Premium

GM Levon Aronian critiques FIDE Circuit, discusses Gukesh-Ding Liren match, Global Chess League, future of chess, India's Olympiad performance.

 During the second edition of the Chennai Grandmasters classical chess tournament, GM Levon Aronian spoke about his dissatisfaction with the current FIDE Circuit points system, the upcoming Gukesh-Ding Liren World Championship match, the Global Chess League (GCL), his pick for the format that’s the future of chess, India men’s 2024 Olympiad performance, and the anti-cheating measures in chess.

Excerpts:

It’s very strange. So, what happens is that winning a tournament, let’s say, a tournament of Wijk aan Zee’s (Tata Steel Chess’) calibre, equals to winning in an open tournament. That shouldn’t be the case.

I think this is unfair. It’s 13 rounds in Wijk aan Zee. So, winning one event that is 13 rounds can never be compared to an event that is, let’s say, nine rounds. And also, I think just the points (awarded) are not fair. So, why do they compare it with the super tournaments?

They are only calculating the first eight players’ average of an open tournament. But it’s very possible you will never play any of them. Some people won tournaments by not playing or maybe playing one out of these eight. But in super tournaments, you will play everybody.

So, you can play a weak tournament, win it, and get more points than winning a classical one. That’s why, I think it’s unfair.

The American Cup, which I won, doesn’t even count. They didn’t take into account even the Norway Chess. Winning a tournament where Magnus (Carlsen) is playing, doesn’t count! Very strange.