D Gukesh, the Indian grandmaster who became the world chess champion at the age of just 20, now has to carry a heavy burden of expectations. Gukesh, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday, said he took the stress as a golden opportunity to shape himself and become stronger. Gukesh, who will defend his title against Javkhir Sindharov later this year, is currently at the bottom of the list with a disappointing performance in the six-man tournament in Norway.
Boating in the calm waters of the Oslofjord on a rest day for Norwegian chess gave the 12 players in the Open and Women’s divisions a chance to leisurely refresh themselves before the next round. But despite this pleasant environment, Gukesh is seen deep in thought. He has opened up in the past about how difficult it is to live up to people’s expectations after becoming a world champion at such a young age.
A few days before his 20th birthday, Gukesh told the media that the pressure of expectations is something he constantly has to deal with. However, he called the pressure a privilege and said the challenge of the last year and a half has helped him build his character and become a better person. He hopes to manage these expectations more smoothly in the future. He said he enjoyed the whole process of preparing for the World Championship against Sindharov.
World number one and five-time classical world champion Magnus Carlsen, who participated in the same tournament, shared his feelings about the burden of expectations. The Norwegian admitted that it was most difficult for him to live up to the expectations of others when he became champion. According to Carlsen, he felt that he was winning titles for others rather than for his own satisfaction and that is why he decided to withdraw from the current Classical World Championships.
Carlsen is excited about the upcoming World Championship match between Gukesh and Sindharov He clarified that now he should focus on these two young players instead. As a casual chess fan, he said he would enjoy the exciting match.
In recent times, De Gukesh has been constantly trying to regain his previous rhythm in the Norwegian chess tournament and the entire sports community is now focused on defending his title in the upcoming World Championship.