BENGALURU: A 22-year-old grandmaster, one of many strongest gamers on the planet, mendacity flat on a resort mattress together with his leg propped up on a pillow, calculating variations towards a World Championship challenger sitting upright throughout the board. That was Alireza Firouzja’s actuality for a stretch of tournaments earlier this 12 months, a fallout from an ankle damage. It was surreal.“I simply stepped wrongly,” Firouzja, now 23, instructed TimesofIndia.com, recalling the second that caught the chess world’s consideration throughout the Tremendous Chess Traditional in Bucharest, Romania, earlier this 12 months in Could. “I wished to return down from the stage, and I stepped wrongly, and I twisted my ankle.”Only a incorrect step off a stage, besides this time it occurred to somebody with a full event calendar and no actual possibility to easily relaxation up.The damage first sidelined his motion throughout the Grand Chess Tour leg in Romania, which he described because the low level of your entire saga. “Romania was probably the most annoying half, as a result of I needed to lie on the mattress and hold the toes up,” he added.Issues improved barely by the point he reached Norway Chess, the place he was on crutches however was at the very least capable of sit behind the board once more.“In Norway already I might sit behind the desk,” he mentioned. However Romania was the stretch that examined him most. Amongst these opponents was Javokhir Sindarov, now the World Championship challenger who will face Gukesh later this 12 months.Requested straight what it truly felt like, calculating chess from a horizontal place, leg elevated, unable to sit down up correctly, he did not disguise his annoyance.“It was very disagreeable,” he revealed. ” However I simply wished to play, as a result of it was alternative. However after two rounds, I simply mentioned, it is sufficient. It was inconceivable to play.”He is since made a full restoration. “It is absolutely recovered,” he confirmed.Again in India, and clearly having fun with itThe bed-and-pillow chapter is behind him, however Firouzja’s relationship with Indian crowds has turn into one of many extra constant threads of his 12 months.That is his second journey to the nation within the area of three to 4 months. He gained the Chennai Grand Masters event in July earlier than arriving for the International Chess League (GCL) right here in Bengaluru, the place he performs for two-time champions Triveni Continental Kings.“India, at all times, each time I come, individuals are very concerned with what we do, and it is superb,” he mentioned, when requested in regards to the reception. “I have been this 12 months two instances already, I used to be in Chennai, now right here, and final 12 months I used to be in Mumbai (for GCL).”The meals, apparently, has made an impression too. Revealing what he enjoys probably the most, Firouzja mentioned, “I just like the rooster tandoori and stuff.”On Gukesh vs SindarovWith Sindarov set to problem Gukesh for the World Championship, Firouzja, who has performed each a number of instances in several codecs of the sport up to now, provided his evaluation of the upcoming conflict in Geneva.“I believe will probably be a detailed match, in all probability,” he added. “I do not know, something might occur.”Alireza, an Iranian-French grandmaster, grew to become the youngest participant to surpass a FIDE score of 2800, attaining it at 18 years and 5 months in November 2021, breaking Magnus Carlsen’s earlier report of 18 years and 11 months.Regardless of attaining a lot at a younger age, he was extra expansive on simply how laborious the highway to World Championship match truly is, having walked a lot of it himself.“You must play rather a lot, and it’s important to at all times be in your finest form,” he mentioned of qualifying by the Candidates Event. “And Candidates, in these two weeks, it’s important to play your finest. It is a laborious journey. It is good to strive.”What’s subsequent for Firouzja?As for the place he heads after GCL, Firouzja confirmed his subsequent main cease stays the Complete Chess Championship, which is ready to be held from November 10 to 21, 2026, on the Anantara New York Palace Resort in Budapest, Hungary.Between a freak ankle damage, a full restoration, two journeys to India in beneath half a 12 months, a style for tandoori rooster, and a top-level chess schedule, the picture that may stick, although, is the one from Romania.