Das Interesse in der Schachwelt ist mäßig, in Indien ist es riesengroß. Delhi und Gukeshs Heimatstadt Chennai hatten sich um die Ausrichtung beworben. Google Asia als Hauptsponsor gab den Ausschlag für Singapur. 2,5 Millionen US-Dollar (umgerechnet 2,4 Millionen Euro) beträgt das Preisgeld, gut eine Million Dollar soll für den Weltschachbund abfallen.
Der neutrale Ausrichtungsort nimmt etwas Druck vom jungen Herausforderer. Auch so schon konzentriert sich auf Gukesh die Aufmerksamkeit der überwiegend aus Indien angereisten Medienvertreter. Fast die gesamte Schach-Community rechnet mit Gukeshs Sieg. Für manche Fachleute wäre es schon eine Überraschung, wenn das Match nicht einseitig verliefe und über die volle Distanz von 14 Partien ginge.
Ausgeglichenheit dank Yoga und Meditation
„Ich bin super aufgeregt und bin sicher, dass ich nervös sein werde, aber ich weiß, dass ich jede nervliche Situation meistern kann“, sagte Gukesh. Von den schwachen Leistungen seines Gegners in letzter Zeit will er sich nicht beirren lassen. „Ich treffe auf Ding Liren, der seit zehn Jahren zu den Besten der Welt gehört, und meine Aufgabe ist klar: einfach in jeder Partie die beste Version von mir sein und die besten Züge in der Stellung spielen. Wenn mir das gelingt, kommt es nicht wirklich darauf an, ob er wie zuletzt spielt oder in Bestform ist.“
At the Candidates Tournament in Toronto last April, Gukesh emerged as an underdog. The burden of favorites is new for him. At least he mastered it at the Chess Olympiad in September. With a phenomenal result at the top board – eight wins, two draws and no defeat – he led India to victory.
He had been preparing for the match for months and learned a lot. It was fun and he was very happy, Gukesh said at a press conference on Saturday. He recently consulted a sports doctor and added new exercises to his fitness program. He owes his balance to yoga and meditation.
For several months he has been working with the South African mental coach Paddy Upton, who has made a name for himself in the Indian national sport of cricket. Gukesh also enjoys reading biographies of successful athletes. He named Novak Djokovic and cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni as role models.
For a long time he was in the shadow of Praggnanandhaa, who is a few months older and also comes from Chennai. While “Pragg” found sponsors early on and received invitations to international tournaments, Gukesh has been traveling from Open to Open since he was eleven. In order to be able to accompany him, his father interrupted his career as a doctor. The family borrowed money from acquaintances in the hope that their talented son would one day follow in the footsteps of India’s first world champion Vishy Anand.
“He opened up new paths and ideas for me”
The role model has long since become his mentor. In 2021, Gukesh was accepted into the WACA academy by Anand. The IT investment company Westbridge, which finances WACA, is now also Gukesh’s personal sponsor. For two years now, WACA has provided him with a trainer who works exclusively for him.
It is the Polish grandmaster Jacek Gajewski, who was Anand’s second for many years. Thanks to the Polish grandmaster, his repertoire of openings has grown both in depth and breadth. “His biggest influence on me is my approach to the game. I used to be a very narrow-minded player. He opened up new paths and ideas for me.”
According to Magnus Carlsen, who gave up the world championship title in 2023 without a fight because the months of preparation no longer appealed to him, Ding Liren only has a chance if he is the first to win a game and thereby regain his self-confidence. Gukesh starts first with the white pieces.
