Gukesh has been going by way of robust occasions.
| Photograph Credit score: B. Velankanni Raj
Turning into the World champion might be simpler than being one. This may be operating by way of the thoughts of D. Gukesh, who is ready to defend his title in a number of months’ time.
The 20-year-old Grandmaster has been going by way of a protracted lean spell because the championship conflict towards Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov looms.
Gukesh hasn’t gained a match since his beautiful triumph in Singapore, and the performances have been below-par to say the least. On the just-concluded Chennai Grand Masters right here, he misplaced three video games and couldn’t purchase a win whereas ending final in a subject of eight. He now has solely the Olympiad in September to regain type and be able to face Sindarov.
5-time World champion Viswanathan Anand stated Gukesh nonetheless had time to get out of the rut, including: “He should be upset with the outcomes, however he’ll anyway play some extra video games. He’s had a nasty streak for some time, however he can snap out of it.”
N. Srinath, the captain of the Open workforce within the upcoming Olympiad, isn’t involved in regards to the type of Gukesh, who was on the highest board through the victorious marketing campaign in Budapest two years in the past. On this regard, he identified that R. Vaishali had a equally troublesome time within the Chennai Grand Masters’ Challengers occasion final 12 months.
“Vaishali gained the Grand Swiss title a number of months later after which the Candidates. Slumps in type can occur, however class is everlasting. It takes just one sport, one important second to regain confidence,” Srinath stated, batting for Gukesh.
Revealed – July 23, 2026 09:58 pm IST
