India's young chess sensation and reigning World Champion D Gukesh has been at the center of intense debate following his historic title win against Ding Liren. The 17-year-old became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, but his triumph didn't come without criticism. Legendary names like Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik questioned the quality of the match, prompting discussions over the format and merit of the championship itself.
From validation to vulnerability
Gukesh responded strongly in January at the Tata Steel Chess Masters in Wijk aan Zee, finishing an impressive second and briefly silencing his doubters. However, his momentum stumbled in the months that followed. A winless run in Weissenhaus left him eighth, and a disappointing performance in Paris saw him fall short of the knockout stages in the Freestyle Chess event. The slump has reignited questions about his adaptability, especially in emerging formats like Freestyle Chess.
Gujrathi weighs in: ‘Too soon to judge Gukesh’
Speaking exclusively to India Today, Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi came to Gukesh’s defense, urging patience and emphasizing the distinction between the champion's current struggles and the broader chess debates.
“I think these two issues are quite different. As for Gukesh, it’s too soon to judge. He’s just achieved the world championship title, and he had a strong performance at Wijk Aan Zee. Classical chess is clearly his strength, and I think the upcoming Norway Chess in May will be a good test for him,” said Gujrathi.
Gujrathi also pointed out that Gukesh has not dedicated as much time to other formats and needs more exposure to adjust.
“It’s well known that Gukesh hasn’t paid as much attention to other formats, and it takes time for him to adjust. So, he probably still needs more time to adapt to Freestyle and other formats. But I’m sure he wants to excel in all of them because, to be a true world champion, being proficient across all formats is expected. I’m confident he’s highly motivated to improve in that area,” he added.
On the FIDE vs Freestyle Chess standoff
As the chess world continues to navigate the growing divide between traditional and new-age formats, Gujrathi offered his perspective on the rift between FIDE and Freestyle Chess organizers—particularly around the Chess960 World Championship controversy.
“As for the FIDE vs. Freestyle war, I haven’t delved into the details much, but any conflict that doesn’t contribute to the sport’s growth isn’t ideal. I hope they can come to an agreement because I don’t think it has to be about choosing between classical chess and Freestyle chess. Both can coexist, and if they can figure out how to make that work, it would be great for the sport,” he explained.
The action now shifts to Norway.