Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh, currently competing at the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, opened up about the intensity of competition at the elite level.
Sharing second place with Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Sam Sevian after two rounds, Gukesh admitted that “in the top 10, most players are on par,” with mindset and motivation often proving decisive.
The 19-year-old world champion, who defeated Ding Liren last December to clinch the title in Singapore, reflected on the role of Viswanathan Anand in shaping his career. “A huge part of my success had to be Vishy sir—not only as an inspiration but also through the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, which gave me crucial opportunities,” Gukesh said.
Speaking on the sidelines, Gukesh cited R Praggnanandhaa’s resurgence as a prime example of shifting momentum. “Last year, Arjun and I were doing great, but Pragg was struggling. This year, he has been winning a lot of tournaments. It’s the one per cent extra motivation or energy that makes the difference,” he noted.
Gukesh, who also became the youngest-ever to cross 2750 FIDE rating at 17, acknowledged the blend of government backing, sponsorship, and “a bit of luck” behind his meteoric rise. Despite losing to Praggnanandhaa in the opening round of the Sinquefield Cup, Gukesh remains a strong contender in the tournament.
