The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced the players who had qualified for the Open and Women's Candidates Tournaments and it comes as no surprise that India is the real chess powerhouse, not China. Despite Ding Liren being the world champion, my belief is that the male chess players in that country has reached a stagnant point. I don't see a worthy successor to Ding. In fact, I don't even foresee Ding being able to defend his world champion title successfully.
Another interesting fact from the Candidates lists is that more than 50 percent of the players are Asians! Alireza Firouzja is Asian, a true-blue Iranian, not a Frenchie by birth. And even Hikaru Nakamura is ethnically half-Japanese with American citizenship.
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| In all likelihood, Magnus Carlsen won't play and his place shall be given to someone else |
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