4 min learnOsloJun 2, 2026 11:32 PM IST
Prior to now 18 months, the crown of world champion appears to be weighing heavy on D Gukesh’s head. There appears to be a relentless goal on the again of the youngest champion in historical past. The outcomes have sagged, profitable possibilities squandered.
Consequently, the cacophony of criticism has been deafening. Former world champions like Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik and Anatoly Karpov have provided unsparing feedback concerning the boy who’s simply turned 20.
If one questioned how all that has affected the younger man, his coach is just not too perturbed.
“I don’t suppose assembly the expectations of former world champions is his important objective as knowledgeable chess participant,” says Grzegorz Gajewski, the person who has been a relentless nook man for Gukesh since 2023.
“I don’t suppose the feedback affected him in any respect. They’ve the best to their opinions. It’s your accountability as knowledgeable chess participant, particularly of his calibre, to easily focus in your job.”
Since coming collectively in 2023, Gukesh and Gajewski have ridden the roller-coaster of fortune collectively. The partnership led to a Candidates win at their first try after which a history-making World Championship triumph. Then, the stoop started.
Gajewski admits all’s not nicely with the Indian’s type.
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“Clearly, his classical outcomes have been very disappointing. Even if you happen to take a look at his latest outcomes from the fast and blitz occasion of the Grand Chess Tour in Warsaw, they weren’t mind-blowing. Individuals thought he was over-performing for a 17-year-old. After that, he’s been pretty under-performing. However it’s only a matter of time for him,” the Polish grandmaster provides.
Gajewski, who as soon as helped Viswanathan Anand as a second in his World Championship battles, was launched to the teen by the five-time world champion to assist enhance Gukesh’s opening repertoire. Since then, his position in Gukesh’s profession has advanced.
For the previous few years, a problem that each of them have tried to work on is time-management throughout video games.
“We’ve completed lots of work that was specializing in components which can be someplace between chess and psychology. The work by no means ends actually. We’ve completed lots of work on the time administration factor, but it surely’s an issue that may by no means be totally solved. It’s his (Gukesh’s) nature to suppose (calculate throughout video games). So this isn’t one thing that may be simply solved for good. It’s a relentless problem for him,” says Gajewski.
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Hold preventing
Ask him how Gukesh has improved in latest months, and Gajewski says: “For me, it’s primarily the resilience he’s proven. As a result of he had a few good video games in Tata Metal (at first of the 12 months) and that was it. The remainder of the match was dangerous. Then, Prague Masters was additionally dangerous. It’s not like he’s taking part in some nice chess right here at Norway Chess. He’s taking part in regular chess. It’s not his A sport for certain.”
Gajewski says that whereas it’s straightforward to carry out nicely when a participant is at his A sport, when a participant is just not there, the essential factor is to take care of a stage.
“Permit your self to make errors, or to spoil even some profitable positions, that he did right here. The essential factor is to recover from each sport and do your greatest within the subsequent sport.”
He does level out that there are moments when the choices that Gukesh makes upsets him. However he makes peace with them.
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“Internally, I get offended however I at all times remind myself I’m not the one taking part in, these usually are not my outcomes. It’s essential for me to not be too emotionally engaged. I do my job, he does his job, and that’s it. No matter choice he makes, he thinks it’s for the most effective.”
With the World title defence coming in six months’ time, Gajewski is hopeful that an enchancment in type is simply across the nook.
“There are numerous features in his play which have improved. And whereas these may not but be mirrored within the outcomes, I feel it’s only a matter of 1 good confidence enhance that may enable him to indicate his full potential,” he provides.