Fresh off his World Chess Championship win, D Gukesh has decided to take a break from the ongoing FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships. The youngest-ever world chess champion has been busy attending felicitation ceremonies and giving interviews. In one of these interviews, he was asked about Magnus Carlsen’s criticism of him and the reasoning behind Gukesh’s public challenge to the Norwegian.
The 18-year-old made history by clinching the title in Singapore, defeating the defending champion Ding Liren. Gukesh earned his spot in the final through his victory at the Candidates tournament, where he faced Liren in a thrilling match that stretched to a decisive 14th game. It looked like the match might head into a tiebreaker, with Liren attempting to force a draw. However, a critical blunder on move 55 allowed Liren to resign, giving Gukesh the win in a historic moment.
Despite Gukesh’s monumental achievement, Carlsen downplayed the significance of the match, criticizing its quality and calling the classical chess format the “worst” way to decide the best player in the world.
After his win, Gukesh humbly stated that he did not consider himself the best player in the world, but issued a challenge to Carlsen. However, Carlsen publicly declined the challenge, saying he had no interest in competing for the World Championship title. Gukesh responded to this, subtly criticizing Carlsen’s refusal to participate, saying, “It’s not the fault of other players.”
In an interview with India Today, Gukesh explained, “It was a bit of both. At that moment, I was being honest. While the match was between two of the best players in the world, it didn’t determine who the best player really is. Some might believe it should, but when the best player refuses to play, it’s not the fault of the other players. As a chess fan, I would love to see Magnus back.”
Gukesh Responds To Carlsen’s Criticism
When asked about Carlsen’s criticism of his World Chess Championship victory, Gukesh didn’t hold back. He said, “I knew Magnus was analyzing the games on the TakeTakeTake app. Some of my team members were listening in and got insights from it. Critics have a point, but at my age, it’s easier for things to motivate me, and I want to prove them wrong. Criticism has always driven me throughout my career. I believe no one can criticize me more than I do myself.”
Looking ahead, Gukesh is set to return to competitive action next year, with some exciting matchups lined up. He will face his idol, Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand, as well as Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi in several high-profile matches.
