India, Sept. 10 -- Fatherhood, Magnus Carlsen said, has made him certain that he will never return to play a classical World Championship match. He believes whoever takes the early lead in the upcoming Gukesh-Javokhir Sindarov match will be a significant favourite to win.

"I think the word defend is probably not a good place to begin, because in terms of how Gukesh has played for the last couple of years, he should not be in a position where he has to defend anything," Carlsen told Indian media, when asked about defending champion Gukesh's title bid, on Thursday soon after he defeated five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand (PBG Alaskan Knights) for the second time this season turning out for the Alpine APL Pipers in the Tech Mahindra...