World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and former World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik, who also served as D Gukesh’s coach, have both voiced criticisms of the World Chess Championship match. Their remarks came after Gukesh's shock victory against defending champion Ding Liren at the World Chess Championship held in Singapore last year.
At just 18 years old, D Gukesh became a sensation in the chess world after securing the World Chess Championship title. His victory against Ding Liren, a seasoned champion, was a monumental achievement. The match went into Game 14, where Liren seemed to be in control, aiming for a tie-breaker. However, a critical blunder by Liren on the 55th move allowed Gukesh to win, sending shockwaves through the chess community. Just a year earlier, Gukesh wasn’t even expected to challenge for the title, but his unexpected triumph in the Candidates Tournament propelled him into the championship spotlight.
Viswanathan Anand's Support for Gukesh
While many celebrated Gukesh’s remarkable achievement, some critics, including Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik, were quick to point out Liren’s blunder as a game-changing mistake. Kramnik called the error "child-like," which, in his view, shifted the momentum of the match dramatically. However, Viswanathan Anand, the legendary Indian chess grandmaster, took a firm stance in defense of Gukesh's victory.
In a recent event, Anand offered a powerful response to the critics. He highlighted the consistency and resilience of Gukesh, stating, "Gukesh never really changed the strategy of pushing. Unexpected things happened during the match, but he was there the next day, pushing again. The rook [blunder] didn’t happen in a vacuum." Anand’s words were aimed at shutting down the criticism and emphasizing Gukesh’s mental fortitude throughout the championship.
Gukesh's Own Response to Carlsen
Following his victory, Gukesh addressed Carlsen's comments, acknowledging that the quality of the games might not have been perfect, but overall, he felt it was a good match. Gukesh responded with grace, saying, "I understand that the quality of the games wasn’t always up to the mark, but overall, it was a good championship match." The young grandmaster also took the opportunity to challenge Carlsen for the title, although the Norwegian has already declined such a proposition.
Looking Ahead: Gukesh's Future and FIDE Rankings
D Gukesh chose to skip the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship at the end of the year, opting to take some time off before returning to competition in 2025. He is set to face off against other top players, including Anand and Carlsen, in the upcoming year. Currently ranked No. 5 in the world according to the latest FIDE rankings, Gukesh also holds the title of India’s No. 2 chess player, cementing his status as one of the rising stars in the world of chess.