The winner of the tournament taking place at Expo 2020 Dubai, in Hall 2 of the South Wing of Dubai Exhibition Centre, will collect $1.2 million (£900,000/€1.1 million) of the $2 million (£1.5 million/€1.8 million) prize fund with the runner-up receiving $800,000 (£600,000/€700,000).

But for Carlsen something even more important is at stake.

Victory would strengthen his claim to be the greatest chess player in history ahead of Russian Garry Kasparov.

Carlsen first reached the top of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) world rankings in 2010 at the age of 19, and trails only Kasparov in time spent at the top of his sport.

His peak classical rating of 2882 is the highest in history.

Carlsen also holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak at the top level in classical chess.

Carlsen lifted his first world title in 2013 at Chennai in India and has since retained it in Sochi in 2014, New York City in 2016 and London in 2018.

The World Championship was supposed to take place last year but was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the classical section finishes 7-7, the result will be settled by tiebreak speed games on December 15 or 16.

Carlsen, who turns 31 next Tuesday (November 30), is the overwhelming favourite against Nepomniachtchi, a member of the Russian team that won the World Team Chess Championship in 2013 and 2019.

He qualified to meet Carlsen for the World Championship by finishing half-a-point ahead of France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave at the FIDE Candidates tournament in April.

The 31-year-old Nepomniachtchi is competing neutrally to comply with the doping sanctions imposed on Russia.

Russian athletes are required to compete neutrally at World Championship events run by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) signatories.

This follows the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision in the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) case, which saw a four-year package of sanctions reduced to two.

As a WADA signatory, the FIDE is required to comply with the CAS ruling.