Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh’s historic World Chess Championship victory has sparked both celebration and controversy, as the 18-year-old became the youngest-ever world champion by defeating China’s Ding Liren in the final game of the championship in Singapore. While Gukesh’s triumph has been hailed as a landmark achievement, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and others have criticized the quality of chess displayed during the match.
Kramnik, expressing frustration on social media platform ‘X’, referred to the game as the “end of chess as we know it.” He was particularly critical of a decisive error by Ding Liren, describing it as a “childish one-move blunder.” In another post, Kramnik lamented, “Never yet has a WC title been decided by such a childish one-move blunder.” Similarly, five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen expressed dissatisfaction with the earlier rounds, stating, “This does not look like a game between two World Championship contenders. It just looks like maybe the second round or third round of an open tournament.”
Amid the criticism, legendary Indian chess player Viswanathan Anand, who has mentored Gukesh at his WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), came to the young champion’s defense. Speaking to PTI, Anand described Gukesh’s achievement as historic and urged him to ignore detractors. “Criticism comes with every match. To be honest, I think it just comes with the territory. You ignore it, and that’s all,” Anand said. He praised Gukesh’s remarkable journey, highlighting his strong performances in the Olympiad, the Candidates Tournament, and other key events leading up to the championship.
Reflecting on the final game, Anand acknowledged that the match seemed destined for a draw until Ding Liren’s critical mistake turned the tide in Gukesh’s favor. “Most of us had written the game off as a draw by this point. If Ding had brought his bishop back, Gukesh would have had a long task to make any progress. But then, suddenly, the game turned, and he won. It was fantastic,” Anand remarked.
Anand lauded Gukesh’s strategic approach, emphasizing his psychological depth and ability to wear down his opponent. “Gukesh was not playing aggressive or anything. He had an extra pawn and was circling around, trying to find a way through,” Anand explained, adding that such moments of relaxation under pressure are common in World Championship matches.
Anand also expressed pride in witnessing Gukesh’s meteoric rise over the past four years. “For Gukesh to become the youngest world champion in history is truly special. It’s a golden generation of Indian players establishing themselves at the top,” he concluded, celebrating the new era of Indian chess led by Gukesh and his peers.
