D Gukesh Feeling The Heat After Becoming World Champion: 'There Is Extra Pressure'

Last Updated:December 07, 2025, 11:07 IST

D Gukesh became the youngest ever world champion in men's chess history when he defeated Ding Liren in Singapore last year.

D Gukesh hasn't won an event since becoming world champion last year. (PTI Photo)

D Gukesh admits that playing in tournaments since he created history by becoming the youngest world chess champion is a different story now as it adds “extra pressure", indicating the need to justify him wearing the crown. Gukesh defeated Ding Liren in the 14th and final match of the 2024 World Chess Championship held in Singapore to become the competition’s youngest winner.

However, since then, the 19-year-old seems to have been struggling, having not won any tournament so far.

During an interaction with social media users on X, Gukesh said, “For sure there is extra pressure (of playing as world champion) and I feel it too but with each change I have adapted sooner or later in my career so far and I’m sure I will do that this time too!"

Gukesh says he’s not losing any sleep over claiming the top-ranking.

“I know I will give my absolute best for it but whether or not it happens I would be happy with the effort I put in," he wrote responding to another query.

The teenager feels that training with computers does add to the knowledge but warned that too much of it can negatively hamper creativity.

“Training with computers has benefits and drawbacks and you learn a lot of new concepts and makes work easier but if it crosses the line it can kill some of the creativity," he wrote.

Gukesh doesn’t mind playing in lively atmosphere.

Depends… but I think it’s mostly about the mindset I have more than the atmosphere but its more fun to play in huge halls with lot of players like in the Olympiads," he said.

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