New Delhi, Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi believes reigning world champion D Gukesh’s title defence against Uzbek challenger Javokhir Sindarov will be a test of mental strength more than chess ability, with the Indian needing to put behind him a difficult run and rediscover the form that made 2024 an exceptional year.
For example, 2024 was an exceptional year for Gukesh. “That doesn’t mean that in the World Championship, he cannot go back to his 2024 version. Because when you don’t do well, you struggle mentally, it will require a lot of inner strength.
Gukesh has endured an inconsistent phase since his World Championship triumph, while Sindarov heads into the marquee clash in excellent form. “In chess, performances, if you are not Magnus Carlsen, come in stages. Every tournament, he had the Midas touch. “So, it’s a test of his mental strength rather than a test of his chess. Can he forget everything that has happened this year and go as a challenger, not as someone defending the World Championship? Vidit expects a closely-contested match if Gukesh can achieve that mental reset, though he acknowledged Sindarov currently has the momentum. India will face another major challenge at the upcoming Chess Olympiad, where the defending champions will rely on the depth of a team that includes several players currently enjoying good runs. He pointed out that a successful team does not necessarily require every player to be at the peak of his powers simultaneously.
Vidit, however, said a dip in results does not necessarily indicate a decline in a player’s ability. Whatever he played, he was winning,” Vidit told PTI.
