Leko and Svidler bring a player’s view to the Gukesh–Sindarov broadcast

Peter Leko and Peter Svidler are set to call the Gukesh–Sindarov World Championship match in Geneva. Leko played Vladimir Kramnik for the world title in 2004. Svidler is an eight-time Russian champion. Both know what it’s like to sit with a difficult position while the clock keeps running.

ChessBase reported the commentary lineup on November 5. The first game is scheduled for November 24 at the Fondation Martin Bodmer in Cologny. Check the official match schedule for the start time.

Listen while the player is still thinking

The best moment to tune in may be the ten minutes when nobody moves. A commentator can lay out why two sensible plans lead to very different games. One might keep the queens on and leave a king exposed. Another might trade into an ending where the pawn structure matters more.

Try picking a move before the commentators finish the line. If they discard it, listen for the first reason. Sometimes it’s a tactic. Sometimes it’s a bad square you’d have to live with for the rest of the game.

Take one position away from the broadcast

Save a diagram when the commentators disagree or change their minds. Write down what each side wants and one move that could interrupt it. After the game, set it up with a friend. You’ll get more out of that conversation if both of you can make a case before opening an engine.

The match will have a score, but the commentary gives you something to follow even on a day that ends in a draw. See whether you can explain why one player took the time to choose the plan they did.

Try watching one stretch without the evaluation bar

Turn the evaluation bar off for a few moves if your stream lets you. Listen for which pawn break or piece trade the commentators keep returning to. Then turn the bar back on and see if the position is as one-sided as it sounded. Sometimes the computer likes a position that looks very difficult to handle with a clock running. That gap is one of the reasons to listen to players who have sat on both sides of a championship broadcast.