Newly crowned chess world champion D Gukesh responded to critiques regarding the quality of his match against Ding Liren.
He emphasized that victory in high-stakes matches isn’t solely determined by gameplay. He believes willpower and character are equally crucial, qualities he feels he amply demonstrated.
At 18, Gukesh defeated Liren in the 14-game world championship match, scoring 7.5-6.5. This victory makes him the youngest world champion in chess history.
Former world champions Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik expressed their disappointment with the quality of play displayed during the championship match, which concluded on Thursday.
Carlsen remarked that the match resembled “a second round or third round match of an open tournament.”
Kramnik’s assessment was even more critical, stating that the match represented the “end of chess as we know it.”
Asked if he was hurt by Carlsen’s comments, Gukesh told BBC World, “Not really”.
Gukesh acknowledged the validity of some of the criticisms regarding the quality of play. However, he underscored the importance of non-chess factors in determining the outcome of a world championship match.
“I get that maybe in some of the games, the quality was not high but I think the world championship matches are decided not purely by chess but by who has the better character and who has the better willpower. And I think those qualities, I did show quite well.”
While acknowledging the pressure of the world championship, Gukesh admitted he aspired to a higher level of play. He recognised the unique demands of such a high-profile competition.
“And the pure chess part, it was not at a very high level as I would have liked it to be because it’s a new experience for me. So the workload was different, the pressure was different.
“It’s understandable that I was a bit off but I managed to strike at the critical moments, which I am happy about,” said Gukesh.
Ding Liren’s critical error, which ultimately cost him the championship title, also drew criticism.
FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich offered a different perspective on the error. He suggested that such mistakes add to the excitement of the sport.
Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand offered his congratulations to Gukesh. He advised the young champion to disregard the criticism.
“I feel very happy. I was literally watching history being made yesterday. It (criticism) comes with every match. To be honest, I think it just comes with the territory. You ignore it and that’s all,” said Anand.
