Viswanathan Anand Responds to Criticism of D Gukesh’s World Chess Championship Victory

Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand has come to the defense of World Chess Champion D Gukesh, who recently won the title in a controversial match against Ding Liren. Anand responded to criticism from former coach Vladimir Kramnik and World Number 1 Magnus Carlsen, who called Liren’s mistake a child-like blunder.

Speaking at an event, Anand praised Gukesh’s resilience and strategy during the match, stating that unexpected things happen in chess but Gukesh was always ready to push forward. He emphasized that the rook blunder by Liren did not happen in isolation.

Gukesh, who received praise from many in the chess community, faced backlash from some quarters for his victory. Carlsen and Kramnik criticized the quality of the match, with Carlsen suggesting that rapid chess might be a more accurate measure of a player’s skill.

In the decisive Game 14 of the FIDE World Chess Championship, Gukesh defeated defending champion Ding Liren with a strategic move that forced Liren to resign. Gukesh, who was not initially expected to challenge Liren for the title, surprised everyone by winning the Candidates Tournament and earning a shot at the championship.

Despite the criticism, Gukesh remains focused on his chess career and has even challenged Carlsen for the title. However, Carlsen has ruled out a future match against Gukesh.

With Gukesh now ranked as World No. 5 and India’s No. 2, his victory has solidified his position as a rising star in the world of chess. Anand’s support for Gukesh serves as a reminder of the talent and determination that propelled the young grandmaster to victory in the World Chess Championship.