Indian chess sensation D Gukesh is gearing up to defend his world title against Uzbek challenger Javokhir Sindarov. In an exclusive interview, Gukesh shared his thoughts on the challenges of defending a title, saying it's tougher than winning it for the first time.
Gukesh, who became the world chess champion at 18, will face Sindarov in the match scheduled for late November-December. The Indian grandmaster expressed his desire to play the match on home turf, citing the energy and support of the Indian crowd.
However, Gukesh is currently dealing with a slump in form, having dropped in ratings and results in recent tournaments. He was eliminated in the third round of last year's World Cup and finished ninth in the Tata Steel Masters this year.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand and current women's world champion Ju Wenjun shared their insights on the challenges of defending a title. Anand, who lost the title in 2013, said it's a different mindset going into a defending match, while Wenjun emphasized the pressure and expectations that come with defending a title.
Gukesh, however, remains optimistic, citing his love for the preparation process and the growth he's experienced in the last two years. He believes that finding things to love about the process can help kindle the hunger to perform.
