Mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, renowned for his work with elite athletes, recently shared his experience of working with 18-year-old chess prodigy D Gukesh during the FIDE World Championship in Singapore. Upton, who played a pivotal role in Gukesh’s journey to becoming the youngest world champion in chess history, revealed how a single conversation with the young Grandmaster changed his mind about taking on the role.
From Doubt to Conviction
Initially, Upton was hesitant to work with Gukesh. “Somewhere in the middle of 2024, I got a phone call asking if I would consider working with a 17-year-old chess player. Initially, the answer in my head was no,” Upton admitted in a video on his YouTube channel. He explained that he typically works with older athletes who have greater self-awareness and that he had no prior experience in chess.
However, after learning about the unique structure of the chess world and Gukesh’s historic achievement as the youngest-ever winner of the Candidates Tournament, Upton decided to have a conversation with the young Grandmaster. That conversation proved to be a turning point.
“Very soon into that conversation, I realized I was talking with a very special human being,” Upton said. “His ability to self-reflect was remarkable. The quality of his questions, the mental and emotional maturity was so far beyond his years. And it was no surprise that at 17 years old, he was the youngest person ever to win the Candidates.”
A New Challenge in Chess
Upton, who has worked with 19 different sports, including cricket and hockey, admitted that chess presented a unique challenge. Unlike other sports where the body is the primary performance tool, chess relies entirely on the mind. “Chess is the first time where I work with someone whose primary performance tool is the brain,” he said.
Despite his initial uncertainty about the applicability of his methods in chess, Upton was impressed by Gukesh’s clarity and focus. “I said, yes, let’s give it a try. But I really don’t know if my work is that applicable in chess,” he recalled.
Navigating the Highs and Lows
Upton shared insights into Gukesh’s mental resilience during the World Championship. After winning Game 11 to take a 6-5 lead, Gukesh suffered a crushing defeat in Game 12, leveling the score at 6-6. It was the first time Gukesh reached out to Upton during the tournament, seeking guidance to process the loss.
“Gukesh talked me through his process of how he had navigated the win the day before, how he managed the loss, and what his mindset was going into the final two games,” Upton said. “I was so excited by his ability and his clarity on how he had let go of that 12-game loss for the three or four hours of the event, how much clarity he had on pressing the reset, and the amazing focus and calmness that he had moving into the final two games.”
A Historic Victory
Gukesh’s mental fortitude paid off in the final game. Capitalizing on a critical blunder by his opponent, Ding Liren, Gukesh secured a 58-move victory in Game 14, clinching the title with a 7.5-6.5 scoreline. This made him the youngest world champion in chess history, a testament to his skill, preparation, and mental strength.
A Special Human Being
Upton’s experience working with Gukesh left a lasting impression. He likened the young Grandmaster to legendary athletes like Virat Kohli and Jacques Kallis, praising his maturity and ability to handle pressure. “I realized I was talking with a very special human being,” Upton reiterated, highlighting Gukesh’s exceptional qualities both on and off the chessboard.
As Gukesh continues to make history, his collaboration with Paddy Upton stands as a shining example of how mental conditioning can elevate performance, even in a game as cerebral as chess.
