Kolkata Rapid and Blitz chess: D Gukesh pulls out of year's first event

Young chess prodigy D Gukesh has withdrawn from the Kolkata Rapid and Blitz chess tournament due to personal reasons. While Nihal Sarin has been named as his replacement, Gukesh's absence is a significant blow to the event, which was anticipated to feature a clash between Viswanathan Anand and the reigning World Champion.