Gukesh and the Titans: What the Youngest World Chess Championship Contender Learned from the Legends
Donning a fearless tactical style, Gukesh Dommaraju etched his name in chess history. Discover the role models which defined his play... and learn how you can download the maneuvers and mindset of the youngest contender for the chess crown.
At only 18 years old, Gukesh has reached a level which other grandmasters twice his age will never come close to.
From surpassing the 2750-Elo mark in 2022…
Clinching gold twice and scoring 9 out of 10 at the 2024 Chess Olympiad…
To winning the 2024 Candidates Tournament and becoming the youngest challenger for the crown!
Can you imagine the lopsided comparison at family dinners? Or the hour-long rant by mom after she gets off the phone with Aunty or Uncle?
Fortunately, we won’t have to deal with that. We can simply enjoy Gukesh in action again. This time, he’s squaring up against World Chess Champion Ding Liren in the biggest match of 2024.
While the whole world waits, let’s look back to some of the influences which helped define Gukesh’s play. You might just walk away with a sharper eye for tactics and strategy!
Let’s go.
Blessed by Viswanathan Anand
“It all started with Vishy Anand,” said Gukesh in an interview with NDTV about India’s surge in pro chess.
Anand became the first Indian grandmaster in 1998. He also won the World Chess Championship 5 times and the World Cup a record of 2 times.
Celebrated as the greatest Indian chess player, Anand rallies his entire country behind him whenever he plays.
But Anand is not only a role model. Through the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), he took Gukesh and other Indian rising stars under his wing.
The program — which lasted from January 2021 until November 2022 — also enlisted the help of Artur Yusupov (2-time World Championship candidate) and Boris Gelfand (2012 World Championship challenger).
The program’s objective was clear.
“What I want to see from this is to make sure some of them will break into the top 10,” said the 5-time world chess champion.
And, boy, did Gukesh deliver!
From 2563 Elo, Gukesh gained 162 points to reach 2725 Elo and the 23rd spot in the world rankings. On September 2023, he broke into the top 10 for the first time and reached world #8, before settling at his best ranking yet at world #5.
Inspired by the Tactics of Garry Kasparov
Gukesh wasn’t even born yet, when Garry Kasparov hung up his proverbial gloves in 2005.
Still, the influence of the 13th World Chess Champion on the young Indian runs deep.
In the latter’s home library are collections of annotated classical games — including those by Kasparov. And over the board, we can draw many parallels between the two consummate attackers.
Kasparov sat atop the world rankings for over 20 years. Thanks, in no small part, to his flair for hunting kings and calculating combinations dozens of moves long.
In particular, his handling of the knights was second to none. I’ll let his masterpieces from the 1985 and 1990 World Chess Championship do the talking.
Like Kasparov, Gukesh too can drum up a firestorm and create magic with his knights.
In fact, ‘active, aggressive knights’ are a recurring theme in the latter’s games. Watch him prove the commentators and the computer wrong, as he maneuvered his steed along a narrow path to victory.
White is trying to kick Gukesh’s knight back to f6. But our hero had something else in mind. Do you see it?
Restricting the Enemy a la Magnus Carlsen
As far as mastery of prophylaxis and restriction is concerned, nobody comes close to 16th World Champion Magnus Carlsen.
In the game famed as “the most accurate in World Chess Championship history,” Carlsen took away every active idea by Black. After which, winning was only a matter of time.
From a stylistic point of view, Carlsen and Gukesh are night and day.
When Carlsen seeks iron-clad control, Gukesh revels in “crazy positions with head-spinning complications.”
Nevertheless, according to his coach GM Vishnu Prassana, Gukesh studied the games of Carlsen. He paid special attention to the way the latter anticipates the opponent’s ideas… then nips them in the bud.
Which made Gukesh a more lethal attacker!
Because without counterplay to worry about, he’s free to reinforce his offensive, and cash-in on his advantage when he sees fit.
Pinning is one of Gukesh’s favorite tools for restriction. Watch how a single pin paralyzes 4 (!) enemy pieces. Left without a good move, Black was forced to play a losing one.
Conclusion
Over 325 years ago, a revered English physicist once said:
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
— Sir Isaac Newton
Without a doubt, Gukesh Dommaraju took the same path to greatness.
By taking in the lessons of Anand, the tactical vision of Kasparov, and positional control of Carlsen — Gukesh built the distinct, high-pressure style he’s known for today.
Best part? You too can learn to play like him.
If you’d love to dive into the piece maneuvers and tactical themes which define Gukesh’s play — so you can make them your own — then check out Master Moves: Gukesh today.
It analyzes 150 of his best games. Then it isolates the “Guki-style factors” which make Gukesh ‘Gukesh.’
You’ve already seen him hustle with the knights. You’ve seen him eliminate all resistance to guarantee a successful attack.
Now watch him tear apart defenses with the queen, force open lines of attack with his favorite pawn breaks… then watch him play on both flanks to stretch enemy defenses until they break.
Click here to learn the style factors and tactical secrets of chess’ youngest world contender.
