Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand has stepped forward to shield reigning World Champion D Gukesh from mounting criticism over his recent struggles. At just 18, Gukesh made history in December by becoming the youngest-ever chess world champion—only to face a string of setbacks soon after. A tiebreak loss to compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa at the Tata Steel Championship and a defeat against World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour sparked doubts about his staying power at the elite level.
Amid whispers questioning his skills, Anand, India’s first Grandmaster and a five-time world champion, has thrown his weight behind the Chennai prodigy. But what exactly did the chess icon say about Gukesh’s resilience?
Viswanathan Anand’s unwavering faith in D Gukesh’s grit
Viswanathan Anand didn’t mince words when defending his protegé. Speaking to Forbes India, the veteran hailed D Gukesh’s unshakable composure, calling him “hard to break” and praising his ability to rebound under pressure. “
For instance, his win in Game 11 [of the World Championship] was met by quite a stinging defeat in Game 12, but he took it in his stride and kept working,” Anand remarked, referencing Gukesh’s grueling title clash against China’s Ding Liren.
The road to the world championship was anything but smooth for D Gukesh. Ding struck first in Singapore, winning the opening game and later leveling the score in Game 12. Yet, the teenager refused to crumble.
“There’s a kind of consistency that you see with him, and that makes him very strong because, if you’re his opponent, you feel it’s hard to break him,” Viswanathan Anand emphasized. He also highlighted Gukesh’s tactical adaptability, noting, “He prepared diverse ideas in many different openings. Some didn’t work, like Game 1, but many worked, like Games 3, 7, 13.”
Gukesh’s defining moment came in Game 14 of the championship. Faced with the option to settle for a draw—which would have pushed the match into rapid tiebreaks favoring Ding—he boldly pressed for victory. The gamble paid off: Ding blundered, and Gukesh clinched the title in 58 moves. This fearless approach, Anand argues, epitomizes the young champion’s tenacity.
While critics fixate on recent losses, Anand urges patience. “Every champion faces turbulence,” he implied. For D Gukesh, setbacks are stepping stones. As the chess world debates his form, one truth remains: with Viswanathan Anand in his corner, the prodigy’s journey is far from over.