Gukesh D became the centre of attention ever since he defeated Ding Liren and became the world champion in 2024. It’s quite evident, and Gukesh has been open about his comfort in Classical Chess, and that he suffers in Freestyle Chess due to not having much exposure to it.
However, chess icons like Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik did not hold back on criticism and even went as far as calling the game “the end of chess as we know it.” Both players have openly criticised Gukesh’s quality of play in the championship match.
After that, Gukesh finished second in the Tata Steel Masters, though he struggled to even make it to the playoffs in the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour both in Germany and the Paris Leg. Vidit Gujrathi was also a part of the Paris Leg and finished in the last position with Gukesh. The all-new criticism centres around the belief that a true world champion should excel across all formats.
Vidit Gujrathi Defends Gukesh D
In response to this criticism, Vidit Gujrathi defended Gukesh D and said, “I think these two issues are quite different. As for Gukesh, it’s too soon to judge. He’s just achieved the world championship title, and he had a strong performance at Wijk Aan Zee. Classical chess is clearly his strength, and I think the upcoming Norway Chess in May will be a good test for him. It’s well known that Gukesh hasn’t paid as much attention to other formats, and it takes time for him to adjust.”
“So, he probably still needs more time to adapt to Freestyle and other formats. But I’m sure he wants to excel in all of them because, to be a true world champion, being proficient across all formats is expected. I’m confident he’s highly motivated to improve in that area,” he added
Moreover, Gukesh D will now face Magnus Carlsen in the upcoming Norway Chess, which is scheduled for 26 May to 6 June 2025. Norway Chess will feature a classical chess format, which might be the point of redemption for Gukesh D to prove his excellence in the sport and shut the critics once and for all.
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