Why Dommaraju Gukesh is poised to be India’s next big name in world chess
Mentor Viswanathan Anand hails Gukesh surpassing the legend and entering the world top 10 in live rankings
At the ongoing FIDE World Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan, when he broke into the world’s top10 rankings (Elo rating 2755.9), overtaking the legendary Viswanathan Anand, Dommaraju Gukesh, 17, signalled his calibre to be among the elite in world chess.
Gukesh replaced Anand as No. 9 in live rankings while the five-time world champion dropped to No.10. Gukesh looks poised to attain greater heights, unlike Pentala Harikrishna, who had overtaken Anand’s live rating (2763.3 on March 16, 2016) to suggest he was made of sterner stuff but failed to sustain it. Anand overturned it in a day.
Should Gukesh stay ahead of Anand till the release of the next ranking list on September 1, he will become the first Indian to figure ahead of Anand in the world rankings since Pravin Thipsay in July 1986. At that time, Thipsay was rated 2485 to Anand’s 2420. Gukesh, who became the youngest ever—at 17 years, two months and three days as on August 1, 2023—to reach 2750 in live ratings, breaking Magnus Carlsen’s record by two months, is firmly focused on breaching the 2800 mark.
When Anand broke into the top 10, India did not have another Grand Master to boast of. Now, there are more than 80. This includes two of the youngest in the top 30—Gukesh and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa (2709.9)—besides Arjun Erigaisi (2700.6). They have all gained from Anand’s guidance and wisdom. In fact, the 2022 Chess Olympiad at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu had testified to the depth of world-class chess potential and growing competition in the country.
Anand says Gukesh is now spearheading the country’s rise in the sport. “Even though I have been semi-retired for a couple of years, still to lose a spot you have held for 37 years is, well, history. I have to admit that. But what is even more hopeful is that Gukesh has actually entered the top 10 independent of his crossing me,” says Anand, who mentors Gukesh at the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, Chennai, and has also supported him and his parents in the journey.
Gukesh is yet to win the national championship title. But what is it that makes him tick? Poise, composure and efficiency are his strengths. His rapid rise coincided with the last Chess Olympiad when he notched eight consecutive wins, including stunning takedowns, to start the tournament. He began the Olympiad with a rating of 2684 and was World No. 54. Exactly a year on, he has broken into the top 10.
Now, Gukesh is considered the first among equals among the wonder youngsters who have emerged in the chess boom. Analysts point out that as an aggressive player, Gukesh has changed his opening, devoting more time to it in recent months than he used to earlier, taking a lot of risks during the game and becoming more consistent. “He has expanded his repertoire and worked on his weaknesses, especially during the pandemic years when over-the-board events were not there,” says his coach Vishnu Prasanna.
The training regimen has changed post-pandemic. When he is not part of tournaments, Gukesh spends about 10 hours a day playing chess, solving questions, working on openings and studying positions. He has also gained from the nuances and expertise offered by the Viswanathan Anand Academy. Apart from the mental preparation, he spends about two hours daily on the physical part too—doing yoga and hitting the gym.
Beyond making it to the top 10, Gukesh’s goal will be to qualify for the coveted Candidates Tournament. Organised by FIDE, the international governing body for chess, it is the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship. The winner of the Candidates Tournament earns the right to a match at the World Championship against the incumbent World Champion. Gukesh may do that at the ongoing FIDE World Cup in another fortnight. The top three finishers gain an automatic entry.
And that’s not all. The others in the Indian teen trio at the World Cup contest—Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin—are among those who make India a formidable chess-playing nation. Yet, the likes of Arjun Erigaisi and Raunak Sadhwani are also among the prodigies capable of breaking into the elite of world chess. Never has Indian chess seen so many gifted youngsters making rapid strides on the global stage at the same time. That Anand is contributing to their evolution with his tactful mentoring is an added strength.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has not been able to trigger similar exceptional talent among the girls to ensure that Indian chess retains its momentum. This is despite chess becoming more mainstream in recent years and the growing popularity of livestreaming of chess events. The AICF is committed to making India a powerhouse as it believes that if there is a time to tap the huge potential of the game in the country where it originated, some 15 centuries ago, it is now. Gukesh and the other chess prodigies are the torchbearers.
