Gukesh’s achievement is unbelievable considering his age (just 17) and lack of relative experience in playing elite round-robin tournaments.
Having his own style, hunger, calculating ability and tactics, Gukesh had the credentials. But even the chess pundits were not ready for a script of him getting the big reward.
It took India more than 30 years to unearth the second man for the World Championship Candidates cycle (Anand was the first in 1991). Anand needed four years to graduate from Candidate to Challenger. Gukesh has done it in his debut attempt and within four months. Anand’s role in this journey is crucial. Westbridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA) took Gukesh under its wings at the right time and Anand’s former second, GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland (age 38), travels with him.
Yes, India organised a last-minute Fide circuit tournament in Chennai last year to help Gukesh qualify for the Candidates — he had failed to make the cut from other paths. Even China had organised tournaments for Ding Liren so that he got to play enough games to make the cut in the last Candidates cycle. Then, France’s Alireza Firouzja played some “arranged” games to increase his rating to make the cut this time.
Son of an ENT surgeon father and a microbiologist mother, Gukesh’s journey was not full of roses as his team chose to focus on chess improvement over short-term glory. His father Rajnikant has been a guiding force in this endeavour. GM and coach Abhijit Kunte said, “I have never seen a family so convinced as Gukesh’s. They always knew he had the potential to be an elite-level player. And for that they were willing to make sacrifices.”
Gukesh’s coach Vishnu Prasanna had told TOI that he tells all youngsters to not see the computer evaluation of the position (or see lines suggested by the engine) while analysing the position. “Only Gukesh took it as a challenge and used to analyse on his own without the computer’s help,” he said.
When the chess circuit restarted in September 2021 after the second Covid wave, Gukesh played more than 90 over-the-board classical games in three months. He has now played almost 400 rated games in less than 30 months. Plus, games in shorter time controls, online activity and Fischer Random.
“His hunger and focus is outstanding,” said GM and coach Swapnil Dhopade, who observed him closely during the Chess Olympiad in Mamallapuram in 2022. “He used to come alone for breakfast, finish it off in quick time and go back to preparation mode. Other players used to enjoy their time after sessions involving intense work. But not Gukesh. I could see he was different.”
The Olympiad provided a pivotal moment as Gukesh started with 8/8, a start like no other at that level. He struggled a little bit after that golden phase. But his compatriots were also adding to India’s chess boom around the same time. Arjun Erigaisi won the National title and Tata Steel Challenger; Nihal Sarin was rated highly; Pragg had a great run to reach the World Cup title clash against Carlsen and Vidit won a strong Fide Swiss League Grand Prix.
This lack of sole limelight has perhaps made Gukesh more grounded and fuelled his motivation further.
