Upon his arrival at Chennai International Airport on April 25, D. Gukesh, the 17-year-old chess prodigy who recently triumphed in the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Toronto, was greeted by a frenzy of excitement and adulation. A multitude of enthusiastic supporters, including media personnel, students donning masks with his likeness, and representatives from Gukesh’s alma mater, Velammal, thronged the airport to catch a glimpse of the young champion. Amidst the clamor and excitement, Gukesh maintained a calm and composed demeanor, showing no signs of travel weariness despite his arduous journey that included an 18-hour flight from Toronto to Chennai with a transit in Dubai.
In an interview with The Hindu shortly after his arrival, Gukesh expressed his readiness to face Ding Liren, the World No. 1 Chinese player, in the upcoming World Championship. “Naturally, I didn’t get much time to think and discuss it,” Gukesh said. “Yeah, we have played a few rapid games and some classical. Obviously, he’s a very strong player, quite universal. He’s been at the top for a long time. It will surely be exciting to play. But I think I’m ready for the challenge.”
Regarding the venue for the World Championship, scheduled for November-December, Gukesh stated that he has no specific preference. “I’m fine with playing anywhere,” he said. “Obviously, it’ll be nice to play at home (Chennai). Wherever I play, the goal is to be focused and win the match.”
With only six months remaining to prepare for the prestigious event, Gukesh has no time to rest on his laurels. He has already meticulously planned his upcoming tournaments, including the Grand Chess Tour, a series of five events. “There are already some tournaments I’ve decided to play,” he said. “Mainly the Grand Chess Tour, which is a tour of five events. I’ll be in Warsaw, Poland in a couple of weeks.”
Gukesh’s victory in the Candidates Tournament was hard-earned, with the Chennai native facing formidable competition from some of the world’s top players, including Fabio Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Hikaru Nakamura. After six draws, Gukesh suffered his first defeat at the hands of Iran’s Alireza Firouja in the seventh round. However, the loss to the 20-year-old World No. 6 seemed to ignite a fire within Gukesh, showcasing his remarkable mental fortitude. “It was quite a painful loss for sure,” Gukesh admitted. “But soon after that, I recovered. The next day was a rest day. I fortunately was in very good spirits. Even after the loss, I thought I had every chance to win this event.”
According to Gukesh, wins and defeats do not linger in his mind for extended periods. “Win or defeat stays–they generally say, but it’s never been the case for me,” he explained. “I generally managed to recover whatever the result.”
Gukesh attributes his unwavering focus as one of the primary reasons for his victory in the tournament. “I think the focus that I had and the kind of discipline I went throughout the three weeks… I had specific routines,” he said. “I was very strict and made no compromises. I think that was very important.”
As is customary in the preparation for Candidates and World Championship events, Gukesh had the invaluable support of a team of seconds, with Polish Grandmaster Grzegorz Gajewski serving as his main head coach. “Obviously I had a bigger team than you could see, Gajewski is the main head coach,” Gukesh said. “Each one had a different kind of role. Mostly, they were helping remotely. I don’t want to reveal the names but their help was unbelievable to me.”
The 17-year-old, now the youngest-ever World Championship Challenger, recognizes the significance of his achievement not only for himself but for the sport as a whole. “Winning Candidates is, of course, very special,” he said. “I hope a lot of people get inspired by it and take up chess. Many kids will get into the game. The general popularity and respect for chess will grow.”
Gukesh expressed his profound gratitude for the unwavering support he has received from WestBridge Capital, WACA (WestBridge Anand Chess Academy), and his coach, Vishnu Prasanna. “I can’t really ask for more,” he said, while also acknowledging the inspiration he draws from five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand. “I can’t thank Vishy sir enough,” he remarked.
