Chess World Champion Gukesh’s losses no big deal, feels Vishy Anand; but be ready for ‘Okay, Mr. Champion, so what’s so great about you?’ challenges

Gukesh & Vishy Anand

As Gukesh’s reign as world champion turns one, Vishy Anand speaks on his form, added scrutiny on teen, pressure of facing him in GCL and more

At a social event recently, current world champion Gukesh Dommaraju made his way to chess legend Viswanathan Anand and his son Akhil. After exchanging pleasantries with Anand’s son, Gukesh turned to his idol for some light-hearted conversation where he mentioned how he had taken a short vacation after the World Cup and had gone trekking.

Then, out of nowhere, the 19-year-old switched to shop talk.

“We’re playing against each other in the third round (of the Global Chess League).”

Anand chuckles as he recollects this meeting with his 19-year-old protege and his polite reminder. With both of them playing on icon boards at the upcoming GCL’s third edition, they will face off twice with Anand wearing Ganges Grandmasters’ colours while Gukesh will play for Alaskan Knights.

“I thought that sounded like someone who had checked his pairings very well. I think he’s keen to put up a good show (at GCL),” said by Anand .

Friday will mark one year since Gukesh ascended to the world champion’s throne in Singapore. In the 12 months since that heady moment for Indian chess, the five-time world champion has met his protege on multiple occasions away from the chess board.

“I have not spoken about too many things with him (since he became world champion). I’ve shot more ad films with him than I’ve had conversations with him this year, to be honest,” Anand says.

He says that the two ad films that he’s featured in with Gukesh have given both of them the chance to spend entire days with each other on sets. There’s usually plenty of banter between the country’s only world champions. Occasionally, they also exchange a chess puzzle or two.

Since he became world champion, Gukesh has played in plenty of events across the world. But success has been hard to come by. There have been some bright moments, like his classical victory over Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess, him almost winning the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee and him ending on top of the standings after the rapid portion of the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia. But he’s also lost games against younger and unfancied opponents at events like the Grand Swiss and World Cup in Goa recently. This has led to plenty of scrutiny about whether the crown is weighing heavy on his head.