Legendary chess player Viswanathan Anand urged D. Gukesh on Friday to disregard the criticisms surrounding the recent World Championship match against China’s Ding Liren, noting that such critiques are a common part of success.
Gukesh made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest player ever to claim the world title, defeating Liren in the 14th and final game of the championship held in Singapore.
Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik expressed his disappointment with the quality of chess exhibited during the match, labeling it the “end of chess as we know it.” Kramnik voiced his frustration on social media, saying a critical blunder by Ding was “childish.”
In his posts, Kramnik commented, “No comment. Sad. End of chess as we know it,” and added that he had never seen a World Championship title decided by such a foolish one-move mistake. Magnus Carlsen, a five-time world champion from Norway, also criticized the quality of play in earlier rounds, stating, “This does not look like a game between two World Championship contenders.
It resembles perhaps the second or third round of an open tournament.” In contrast, Anand, a five-time world champion and Gukesh’s mentor, remarked that he witnessed “history in the making” with Gukesh’s victory. “I felt great joy.
I was truly watching history unfold yesterday,” Anand told PTI Videos. He acknowledged the inevitability of criticism, stating, “It comes after every match. To be honest, it’s simply part of the experience. You ignore it and move on. Consider Gukesh’s accomplishments, including his qualification and his impressive rise.
He became a stronger player during the Olympiad and won the Candidates this year, along with several strong results in Toronto, leading to this championship.
Criticism is just part of it; you can’t expect to become world champion without facing some random backlash,” Anand elaborated. The championship match appeared to be heading toward a draw when Liren made a mistake under pressure, leading to his loss. “Many of us thought the game was done for a draw at that point.
Had Ding moved his bishop back, Gukesh would have faced a long challenge to make progress. But then, unexpectedly, the game shifted, and he secured the win. It was remarkable,” Anand reflected.
He also commended Gukesh’s psychological approach, noting that he played cautiously, even when he had an extra pawn and was searching for a breakthrough. “Ding momentarily relaxed, which is common in World Championship matches, almost a recurring theme in the past 20 years,” Anand said.
Having observed Gukesh’s growth over the last four years at his WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, Anand expressed immense pride in his journey.
“Witnessing his rapid ascent throughout this cycle to the World Championship match has been an incredible experience. We are seeing a talented golden generation of Indian players making their mark at the highest level.” “For Gukesh to become the youngest world champion in history is something truly extraordinary.
This is undoubtedly a remarkable generation of talent,” Anand concluded.
