After nine games of the World Chess Championship, both Gukesh and Ding Liren are tied with 4.5 points. After each game, both players went into the press conference room and sat side by side to answer questions.
After nine press conferences, we put together a lot about Gukesh: his warm-up routine, why he closes his eyes on the board, how he maintains a poker face during games and what he would do if he was allowed to look at the engine. Once during the game.
A ‘good move’ is not numerology
After Game 4, Gukesh was asked if he, like chess legend Garry Kasparov, believed in numerology. The Russian world champion has said how fitting it is that he has become the 13th world champion since he was born on April 13. The idea behind the question was that 18-year-old Gukesh is trying to become the 18th world champion.
“I think I believe more in what Bobby Fischer said (I believe in good moves). So I’m trying to make good moves,” smiled Gukesh.
Gukesh has no color preference
In the press conference of the second game, Gukesh was asked if he liked any particular color.
“I see every game as normal, obviously White has a slight edge. But because of all the lines coming into the computer these days the difference is even less. I really don’t have a preference,” he said.
Gukesh does not like criticism of super GMs
After his loss in Game 1, former world champion Magnus Carlsen criticized Gukesh, saying there was “not a single good decision”.
Gukesh dismissed the criticism with typical politeness.
“Yes, after a few points in match 1 all my moves were very bad. But it’s also understandable because it was my first match at the World Championship. I was a bit nervous, it was a new setting for me. In his first World Championship, Magnus also started his “It wasn’t great. It was a good game, but I was feeling great. It wasn’t much to handle,” he said.
Why does Gukesh close his eyes on the board?
“I think it’s normal. I usually do it. I often close my eyes during games, and sometimes, it’s easier to count with your eyes closed. Maybe at some point, it’s like, I’m sitting in this room, there to say Nothing, so I’m closing my eyes. But mostly, I’m just thinking about the situation,” Gukesh explained after Game 5.
Gukesh in a mess
After Game 3, Gukesh was asked if it ever bothers him to think about how many fans are back home.
“Usually when I’m playing, not really. I’ll have one or two disturbing thoughts every now and then over the course of four or five hours. That’s okay,” he said.
Does Gukesh rely on the engine during the game?
Both players were asked during Game 9 if they were allowed to check the engine for one move during the game, which move would they do it on. “I don’t want to cheat under any circumstances,” replied Gukesh in his heart.
Gukesh to maintain a poker face
In the press conference after Game 4, both players were asked if they practice keeping a poker face, especially when the opponent makes a mistake.
“Generally I think I’m not a very expressive player. On the board I show some emotions from time to time. But generally I’m a person who always maintains a poker face. I don’t think about it too much,” he says, maintaining a poker face.
Which historical player does Gukesh want to play?
Bobby Fischer. “He is someone I really admire. It would be great to play Fisher,” said the Indian teenager.
Gukesh’s pre-game ritual
Gukesh revealed that he spends some of his game time solving puzzles on the Chess.com app with a feature called Puzzle Rush.
“Puzzle Rush is always good to warm my mind,” said Gukesh.
Players away from chess inspire Gukesh
“When I was younger, it was MS Dhoni. Now it’s Novak Djokovic,” said Gukesh.
Gukesh in John
At a press conference, Gukesh was asked if he had spoken to compatriot Nihal Sarin to congratulate him after winning the Presidents Cup in Uzbekistan.
Gukesh admitted that he did not know that Nihal had won.
Gukesh said, ‘I usually don’t talk to many people outside my team during the tournament.
After Game 9, he added that he stayed away from the Internet and social media during the tournament.
“I usually don’t use social media during tournaments. If it’s important, my team will tell me. I don’t go on the internet and look things up myself. Generally, it’s not that difficult because I’m not much on social media anyway,” said 18-year-old Gukesh, unlike any 18-year-old.
Gukesh likes to play chess
In Game 6, Gukesh denied a draw despite being in a poor position with a triple. When asked about it, he laughed and said: “I like playing chess, yes? It was more of a psychological situation. I didn’t see much danger so I wanted to play and see what happened.”
Which past world champion inspires Gukesh?
“Since the beginning it has been Vishi sir (Viswanathan Anand). And Fischer and Carlson also inspired me a lot.
Which book influenced Gukesh the most?
Game Changer (a book about AlphaZero’s playing style and strategy and the science behind it).
The World Championship match that captivated Gukesh
Fischer-Spasky in 2972. And Anand vs Carlson in 2013, which was played in Chennai and Gukesh witnessed a match live.
If Gukesh becomes world champion…
After Game 6, Gukesh was asked what he would do after becoming world champion: “I don’t know. I think I’ll be happy first,” he said.