D Gukesh’s Winless Run Continues at Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam

D Gukesh’s Winless Run Continues at Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam

Young chess prodigy D Gukesh’s winless streak continued as he lost to Alireza Firouzja at the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Wangels, Germany. Despite managing a draw in their first game, Gukesh faltered in their second encounter and had to settle for eighth place in the tournament.

Fans have pointed out Gukesh’s weaknesses in shorter formats and Chess960, but some believe that he may be prioritizing the FIDE World Championship cycle over the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. As the reigning world champion, Gukesh automatically qualifies for all Grand Slam events.

Gukesh’s coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, emphasized that the young player’s main focus is on classical chess and that there are many areas for improvement due to his age. Gajewski also addressed concerns about Gukesh’s intuition, stating that the player’s exceptional calculation skills can sometimes hinder his decision-making in Chess960.

Despite his poor performance at Weissenhaus, Gukesh’s preference for the FIDE cycle suggests that his Freestyle Chess results may not be a cause for concern. The next Freestyle Grand Slam event will take place in Paris, and Gukesh’s participation remains uncertain, although he is an automatic qualifier for the tournament.