Sources: 
Fabiano Caruana remains confident as he faces young Indian chess prodigies at the Norway Chess tournament, showing no fear despite their rising reputations.
Caruana highlighted the competitive spirit among the new generation, including Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa, stating he expects to "compete on more or less equal terms for a while" with these players.
"Magnus definitely wanted to win (against Gukesh) to prove a point: the point being that not only is he (Gukesh) not nearly as strong as Magnus but also that he's not as strong as other players," Caruana explained on his podcast, reflecting on the recent high-profile match between Magnus Carlsen and Gukesh.
Despite acknowledging Gukesh's status as a world champion, Caruana noted that the young Indian's classical chess performance in recent events like the Superbet Chess Classic and Norway Chess has not always been at his peak.
"I don’t think for the last two events (Superbet Chess Classic and Norway Chess) you can say that Gukesh is not playing close to his best classical chess," Caruana observed, suggesting room for growth.
Caruana's remarks underscore a respectful but competitive outlook toward the emerging Indian talents, emphasizing his readiness to meet their challenge head-on without intimidation.
This dynamic highlights the evolving landscape of elite chess, where established grandmasters like Caruana engage with a new wave of youthful contenders from India, signaling exciting future rivalries.
Sources: Fabiano Caruana expressed confidence facing young Indian chess talents like Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa at Norway Chess, stating he feels no fear and expects to compete on equal terms. He noted Magnus Carlsen's intent to prove Gukesh's relative strength in recent matches.
