Gukesh, the reigning World Chess Champion, has always been open about the way he adores MS Dhoni. While Dhoni has been getting a lot of backlash due to his disappointing performance in IPL 2025, the chess champion stands strong on his ground.
He said in an interview with RevSportz, “I remember when I was like five years old, I was watching 2011 World Cup. The final shot. It is just something. Also, for kids in general, Dhoni is like an emotion. Especially me, coming from Chennai, he playing for CSK. So, from childhood, I admired him. Also, like, I can connect with him on how he behaves on the field, always composed, calm in the critical situations.”
Not only Dhoni, the Chess Champion, also opened up about his admiration for Novak Djokovic as he said, “Something that I try to do on the chess board as well. And recently, also, (Novak) Djokovic. I really admire him”
Gukesh became the youngest World Chess Champion at the age of 18 years and 6 months by defeating Ding Liren. Regarding his strategy for winning the championship, he said, “Yeah, we tried. I mean, when you play a World Championship and prepare for 6-7 months for all kinds of scenarios and their reactions. And we thought it will be a good idea, with Ding not being at his absolute best. We just wanted to keep him at the board and prolong the game and let him make a mistake,”
Gukesh On How MS Dhoni Helped Him Win The World Championship
Gukesh has always been fond of Dhoni. Just a few weeks back, he revealed how he followed Captain Cool’s approach under pressure in high-stakes games. The young chess prodigy is known for his calm and composure, and he expressed how Thala helped him become the World Champion in 2024.
He said, “When there is a high-pressure moment, I tend to think about how Dhoni handled so much pressure in a particular situation. Those things have really helped me calm down. Dhoni, I think, said in an interview: ‘Keep doing the simple things, keep the mind clear when the situation is very difficult. Having seen Dhoni so many times, it has impacted me.”
Hence, it’s positive to say that Gukesh has always been a great MS Dhoni supporter and no matter the hate Dhoni is being poured, he will continue his support.
Also Read: “He is the one who…” D Gukesh Reveals How MS Dhoni Helped Him Become Chess World Champion
