Harikrishna Pentala: Ability to calculate right moves, never give up attitude helped Gukesh win World Championship
GM P. Harikrishna says the ability to calculate precisely the right moves at the right time and never give up attitude were the decisive factors in D. Gukesh winning the World chess championship in Singapore on Thursday.
“Losing the first round game and then going on to win the world title is something truly amazing. It reminds us of a similar extraordinary effort by Anand Sir when he outwitted (Veselin) Topalov to clinch the honours in 2010,” Hari informed Sportstar from Prague.
“I feel so happy for Gukesh and mind you, playing chess at that level, surviving three weeks of intense battles and to eventually become the champion, is truly an inspirational journey by him. A role model for any youngster in any sport,” said Hari, who was once tipped by the great Viswanathan Anand as a potential world champion.
“Honestly, before the Worlds final, I didn’t expect this kind of fight back by Gukesh. But hats off to him for pulling off a truly outstanding win,” he said.
“I did work with him a couple of years ago when Gukesh’s ELO was around 2170 and he was always a very matured, disciplined player,” Hari said.
“Winning a World championship is a beautiful moment and we all, especially chess players, salute him for this fabulous feat,” he said.
“Well, this magnificent performance is also a reminder of the kind of boom the Indian chess has been witnessing in the last couple of years and what with India winning gold in both men’s and women’s sections in the Olympiad and now Gukesh becoming the World Champion,” Hari explained.
“I remember playing a draw with him last year in the Chennai Grandmasters tournament which was important for him in his pursuit for the World championship. Anyhow, a truly memorable moment in Indian sport itself,” he concluded.