Gukesh responds to Magnus Carlsen's criticism after historic world championship win
Xtra Time Web Desk: India's D Gukesh, the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, has responded calmly to the criticism from Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik regarding the quality of his final match against Ding Liren in Singapore. Gukesh emerged victorious after a nail-biting 14-game clash, capitalizing on Liren’s blunder in the final game to etch his name in history.
Despite Gukesh's triumph, the match received scrutiny from former champions. Kramnik went as far as calling it “the end of chess as we know it,” while Carlsen dismissed the match, comparing it to an “open tournament’s second or third round clash.”
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When asked if Carlsen's comments had hurt him, Gukesh remained composed, emphasizing that World Championship matches are about much more than just high-quality chess.
“Not really. I get that maybe in some of the games, the quality was not high, but I think the world championship matches are decided not purely by chess but by who has the better character and who has the better willpower. And I think those qualities, I did show quite well,” Gukesh stated.
Gukesh admitted he could have played better but credited his ability to perform during critical moments, which ultimately made the difference.
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“The pure chess part, it was not at a very high level as I would have liked it to be because it's a new experience for me. So the workload was different, the pressure was different. It's understandable that I was a bit off but I managed to strike at the critical moments, which I am happy about,” he added.
Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen has confirmed that he will not be competing for the World Chess Championship title in the near future, effectively ruling out a clash with Gukesh or other contenders.
Gukesh's calm response to criticism and his ability to secure victory under pressure highlight the mental strength and resilience that earned him the world title. While debates around match quality continue, Gukesh’s achievement remains a monumental moment in chess history.
