German chess prodigy Vincent Keymer is set to compete in the upcoming Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters tournament, kicking off this week in Chennai. The 20-year-old, currently ranked World No. 21, has made waves not only through his own strong performances but also for being part of D. Gukesh’s team during his historic World Championship win over Ding Liren last year.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Keymer shared his excitement about the level of competition.

“It’s a very interesting field. There are many young and ambitious players, so I’m expecting a lot of hard-fought games. I just want to play good chess,” he said.

On Working With Gukesh

Keymer reflected on his role as a second for Gukesh during the World Championship, describing the experience as “special” and eye-opening.

“It was the first time I did this kind of work, and it was really interesting. I learned quite a few things during that time. While it’s hard to say exactly what translates into my own play, the experience was helpful,” he noted.

When asked about what makes Gukesh stand out, Keymer praised the Indian Grandmaster’s versatility and sharp intuition.

“He’s quite flexible in his repertoire. His fighting spirit is outstanding. He can understand very complicated positions and calculates extremely well.”

Next Goal: Candidates Qualification

Keymer has set his sights firmly on qualifying for the Candidates Tournament, which will determine the next challenger for the world title.

“That’s more or less the main focus for the next few months. Obviously, it’s going to be very tough, but I’m going to give it my all.”

As one of the most promising talents in the global chess scene, Keymer’s participation adds depth and intrigue to the Chennai Grandmasters, where fans can expect thrilling matchups from the get-go.

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