Gukesh: When Magnus won World Championship against Anand, I really wanted to be the one to bring the title back to India

India’s D Gukesh said realising Ding Liren’s blunder in the final stages of Game 14 was “the best moment of my life” after becoming the youngest World Chess Champion in Singapore on Thursday.

Tied at 6.5-6.5, the 18-year-old Gukesh defeated reigning champion Ding of China in the final game of the 14-game series to clinch the title.

“Actually, when he played Rf2, I didn’t realise, I was almost going to play Rb3 but then I saw that his bishop is actually getting trapped and after Ke1, I have Ke5 and the pawn ending which is winning. When I realised, it was probably the best moment of my life,” said Gukesh.

On Ding, Gukesh said, “We all know who Ding is and he has been one of the best players in history for several years and to see him struggling and how much pressure he had to face and the kind of fight he gave in this match, it shows what a true champion he is and no matter who says what about Ding, for me he is a real world champion.

“Champions always step up when the moment comes. He has not been in great shape for the past two years but he came here. He was obviously struggling during the games and wasn’t physically the best but he fought in all the games and fought like a true champion and I am really sorry for Ding and his team. They put on a great show.”

“I was totally in shock when I made a blunder – his facial expression shows that he was very excited, happy — it took some time to realise it… but otherwise it’s already not so easy to draw,” said Ding after the defeat.

READ | Paddy Upton: Gukesh’s self-awareness beyond his years, has same quality as Kallis

“I think I played my best tournament of the year. It could be better, but considering yesterday’s lucky survive it’s a fair result to lose in the end. I have no regrets,” he added while also clarifying that he is not retiring from the sport.

On his journey, Gukesh said, “Since the time I started playing chess when I was six or seven, I have been dreaming about living this moment for more than 10 years. Every chess player wants to experience this moment and very few get the chance. To be one of them, the only way to explain it is that I am living my dream.”

On becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the title, Gukesh said, “Eleven years back, the title was taken away from India (when Anand lost to Magnus Carlsen in 2013). When I was watching the match in 2013, I was in the stands (in Chennai) and looking inside the glass box and I thought it would be so cool to be inside one day.

“When Magnus won, I thought that I really want to be the one to bring back the title to India and this dream, that I had more than 10 years ago, is the single most important thing in my life so far. There is probably nothing better than doing this for myself, my loved ones and my country.”

On becoming the youngest-ever world champion, “It probably meant a lot to that eight-year-old Gukesh then right now because I stopped paying too much attention to this.”

On tearing up after the win, Gukesh said, “I probably got so emotional because I did not really expect to win that position. I was going to press for as long as I could possibly but I thought that we have been playing for five-six hours and it is going to end in a draw and let’s focus on the tiebreaks but suddenly, I saw Rf2, I realised that it is actually done. I was already preparing myself to go through that huge tiebreak fight and suddenly, it was all over and I had achieved my dream.

“I am not someone who shows a lot of emotions but this one can be forgiven.”

“We didn’t say anything. We were both crying but probably my first word was congratulations,” said Gukesh when asked about his conversation with his mother after the victory.

Revealing his team, Gukesh said, “Grzegorz Gajewski has been my trainer for the past two years. He is someone who just works tirelessly for me. Paddy (Upton) has been a huge support for me in six months before the world championship. Although he is not a part of my chess team, he is a very important person in my team and my journey towards this match.

Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Pentala Harikrishna, Vincent Keymer, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Jan Klimkowski are the other members of Gukesh’s team.

“Vishy Sir (Anand)was never officially a part of the team but we all know he was supporting me. He attended one of the days during the training camp and also helping remotely for a few sessions.

“This team…..every single one of them worked their asses off. I can’t thank all of them enough and I would not have been here without them.”

On being asked who he would like to face to defend his world title, Gukesh said,” I have two years for that. I just want to enjoy this moment.”

On the sacrifices made by his parents, “Thank is a very small word for what they have done. Right from the start, the dream was bigger for them than it was for me because they are both sports lovers. Back in their youth, they did not get the chance to pursue their passion. When I was born, they decided that whatever I want to do, they will do everything they can to support in every way possible. When I started showing interest in chess and showed some talent, they went to such lengths that I did not understand at that time but not when I look back at it, they are just crazy.”

Reflecting on the whole match and the obstacles faced, Gukesh said, “The toughest challenge I had to face was losing the first game. I knew it could happen and I was prepared for it but no matter how much you prepare for it, when you come here as an 18-year-old and lose the first game like the way I did, it is humiliating a bit. It was tough to handle that but after the game, there was a nice moment. I was walking back to the hotel and in the lift, Vishy Sir was also there. He told me, ‘I had 11 games. You have 13 games.’ That’s the only thing he said and it was a nice remainder that it is just one game. It is still a long match and I will get my chances.

I needed some mental toughness. There have been many games that I was so close to winning and then missing my chances which was also frustrating. I had to endure these things which was quite tough but in the end, it worked out.”

On the struggles he has faced in his career, Gukesh said, “Once I started growing in my career, they had to face a lot of financial struggles since we were not a very well-off family. I did not realise it that point. At some point in 2017 and 2018, I could only play tournaments or I could only train because we were running so low on money that my parents’ friends came forward and sponsored me to help me play tournaments. My parents had to endure all these things and make lifestyle changes so that I could just get a chance to play a tournament. The best sacrifices have been done by my parents.

“Also, all the guys in my team but especially, Radic (Wojtaszek), Gajew (Gajewski) and Hari (Harikrishna) are fathers to little kids. So, in this intense preparation, it is not easy for them to stay away from their families having little kids. The way they were able to stay away for so long and do some amazing work and fight till the very moment and that too for me, it was a selfless sacrifice.

Gukesh also gave his thoughts on whether winning the title means he is the best player in the world. He said, “Obviously, becoming the world champion does not mean that I am the best player in the world. That is Magnus Carlsen. It is also a motivating factor that there is someone at a very high level and that it something that will keep me doing the right things, working hard and trying to reach the level of greatness that Magnus has achieved,” he said.

On being asked about what he learned from Ding, Gukesh said, “What I learned for Ding is what an incredible fighter he is – true champions fight until the very end. Ding is the real inspiration for me.”

On whether he would participate in the World Rapid and Blitz Championships later this month, Gukesh said, “I haven’t thought about it. I thought I was going to play before the match started today but right now, I’m not sure. I can’t say whether I would play or not. It is a very important and exciting event and I wish it does great whether I play or not.”

On his potential opponent when he defends his title in 2026, he said, “Playing against Magnus in the world championship would be amazing, it would be the toughest challenge there is in chess. It is up to Magnus, but I would love to test myself against the best player in the world.

“Arjun (Erigaisi), Pragg (R. Praggnanandhaa), Nihal (Sarin) – a lot of these guys are doing a lot for chess and Indian chess. We won the Olympiad which was a beautiful experience for me and the team. I’m sure we are going to have very long careers and I hope all of us will keep fighting against each other, keep pushing, keep motivating each other, and also in the team tournaments we will play together and win a lot more. I would also love to play against an Indian opponent in the World Championship. They are great guys and great players. I wish them the best and I hope this win motivates them and they will motivate me even more.”

On his sleep cycle in the past three weeks, Gukesh revealed, “My sleep wasn’t great but that is understandable. Actually, on the rest day after the 12th game, I spoke with Paddy. Few days before the 12th game, I wasn’t sleeping well. I was feeling a bit groggy on the board. He suggested little changes which I did. I set up the environment in a better way and in the last two days, I slept very well. I slept at least eight hours. I made some changes on the rest day and it really helped. I felt quite fresh on the board during Game 13 and 14 and I was able to play long games and put pressure on my opponent.”

On how he will celebrate the win, Gukesh said, “I know that I am not going to sleep tonight but I am just probably going to hang out with my friends, my team. I would like to talk with a lot of people. I will reveal one secret. Gajew (Gajewski) will be very happy to hear this. On the rest day after Game 9, we went for a walk on the beach. I am personally quite scared of heights. We both looked at people who were trying bungee jumping and he said if I win, he is going to do bungee jumping. And then, I don’t know why said this but I told him that I will also join him. Probably, Paddy can also join us. I’m looking forward to jumping off a bridge.”