Jan Gustafsson on Magnus Carlsen, D. Gukesh, Vincent Keymer and 2026 Candidates tournament

Jan Gustafsson was as soon as ranked eighty fifth on the planet, however he has all the time been eager to view chess not simply as an expert participant. He turned a coach when he was 21, he’s an knowledgeable in opening idea and a broadly regarded commentator, and he labored as Magnus Carlsen’s second for 3 successive World Championship matches. Excerpts from an interview Gustafsson gave The Hindu in Goa:

The Candidates contains a German for the primary time since 1991.

We in Germany are rooting for Matthias Bluebaum although he’s not one of many massive favourites. Will probably be an in depth event. The Candidates is such a nervy affair, an extended event. I feel whoever qualifies, they may have already got proven their value within the Candidates and it is going to be a tricky match for D. Gukesh. However Gukesh has gained expertise, and you’ll see his preparation is so a lot better.

German chess appears to be in fine condition. Vincent Keymer, who was Gukesh’s second for his World title match in opposition to Ding Liren, is the World No. 4. And also you even have males like Alexander Donchenko and Frederik Svane.

We’ve had this group for a few years. We gained the European Workforce Championship [tied for first place with Serbia before finishing runner-up on tie-breaks in 2023], however didn’t handle to win this time round. However, yeah, the younger guys are getting even stronger. So now we have group, nevertheless it’s about making the subsequent step. They’ve had some particular assist, so it’s good to see it’s exhibiting fruit.

Kingmaker: Gustafsson first labored as Carlsen’s second in the course of the 2016 World Championship. ‘Magnus is spectacular in each side of the sport. And he’s a enjoyable man, too,’ Gustafsson says.
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How massive is the emergence of Keymer as a possible World champion for German chess?

There are such a lot of younger guys who’ve potential to be the World champion, like Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja, R. Praggnanandhaa, and there are gamers like Javokhir Sindarov; and Andrey Esipenko is developing. And I’m certain I’m forgetting 5 names. There are a number of high gamers round in that 19 to 22 age group. And Arjun Erigaisi, too. However we’re glad Vincent is in that group. And it’s good to have the ability to root for somebody.

You have been one of many founders of chess24.com, which was a wonderful website to observe chess, with its simple navigation, engaging format, the way in which the content material was introduced or how reside video games have been streamed. However as has occurred usually up to now, the portal was purchased by an even bigger firm after which killed.

Yeah, it’s a bit unhappy. However I feel there’s nonetheless a lot nice chess content material on the market now. The world is altering a bit, so there is no such thing as a scarcity. Sure, I feel we did an excellent job at chess24.

So why did it’s important to promote it?

I wasn’t concerned within the enterprise aspect of it.

What took you to chess24?

I knew some individuals. And it began as a undertaking an extended, very long time in the past. It was a enjoyable trip. I discover loads of work and stuff to do within the chess world, however yeah, I miss a few of the options of chess24 for certain.

You have been very younger whenever you turned a coach. You additionally labored as a second to the world’s strongest participant of all time, Magnus Carlsen. How did this occur?

I received too weak as a participant. And I like being within the chess world, so I search for different work. I used to be a coach after I was 21. I used to be a coach on the World Junior Championships. In chess, it’s regular that you’ve completely different roles.

It definitely is. How did the position with Carlsen in a number of World title matches come about?

I’m not certain. Due to connections maybe and the truth that I like chess openings. It was an thrilling alternative to work at some World Championship matches.

You labored with him for the primary time for the 2016 match in opposition to Sergey Karjakin.

Sure, my work was extra on the opening strains.

Have been there any strains Carlsen needed to work on specifically?

I used to be a little bit of a specialist within the Marshall Assault after ‘e4 e5’, so we labored on that in opposition to Karjakin.

How did you discover working with Carlsen?

I used to be primarily a workhorse someplace far-off. After all, we spent a while, however I wasn’t a lot in contact with Magnus bodily. However the whole lot was all the time nice. And for a participant like me, it’s an honour to be concerned with World Championship matches, the most important stage in chess.

How massive was Carlsen’s workforce in 2016?

Usually it’s like three or 4 guys someplace distant, after which the primary second on website. That 2016 match was robust. He was behind within the match and he was a giant favorite. So it wasn’t precisely a easy trip. However he did come by means of in the long run.

You labored with Carlsen once more in 2018 for his World title match in opposition to Fabiano Caruana. It was an in depth affair, too.

Caruana was very sturdy then. Rankings have been shut and it was a really nervy match with all these attracts [in the classical games]. We knew within the tiebreak, Magnus was in all probability going to be a giant favorite, and he got here by means of there, nevertheless it was very robust.

And also you labored with him once more within the 2021 World title match in opposition to Ian Nepomniachtchi.

That one went properly. Within the first six video games, Nepomniachtchi was very properly ready and it was a really tense combat. However after Magnus gained the primary sport, it was form of easy crusing. I’ve loved working with Magnus. He’s spectacular in each side of the sport. And he’s a enjoyable man, too.

Germany’s candidate: Gustafsson says Germany will probably be rooting for Matthias Bluebaum, left, on the Candidates ‘although he’s not one of many massive favourites’.
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How do you discover being a commentator?

I take pleasure in it. It varies day-to-day. I benefit from the chess world and going to tournaments, however I by no means loved taking part in that a lot, so being a commentator for me is a good way to form of keep in contact with chess.

And chess commentators are getting widespread in locations like India. Your colleague Peter Leko was speaking of how shocked he was when he was recognised by a few Indians by simply his voice in Goa.

Peter Leko is superb. I can think about him being widespread sufficient to be recognised.

What made you flip to commentary?

In chess, for those who’re not a world-class participant, there are numerous completely different roles, and I like speaking, so commentary was a pure match.