Vishy Anand Upgrades Gukesh to ‘B’ Grade After Norway Chess Despite Earlier Slump
World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, the youngest ever to hold the title, has had a roller-coaster ride since clinching the crown in December by defeating Ding Liren. While his start at Wijk aan Zee was promising—falling short only in a tie-break against Praggnanandhaa—subsequent events saw him struggle, particularly at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam’s Weissenhaus and Paris legs, where he failed to secure a single win.
Gukesh’s form continued to dip during the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, where he finished joint sixth with one win, six draws, and two losses.
However, at Norway Chess, the teenager regained momentum. He secured his first-ever classical victory against world number one Magnus Carlsen, famously provoking Carlsen’s fist-smashing reaction. He also bested compatriot Arjun Erigaisi, finishing just half a point behind Carlsen and ending third overall.
Speaking to Chess.com, five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, who mentors Gukesh, revised his performance grade from a prior C minus to a B after Norway Chess.
“He deserved a D, but got a lot of answers correct somehow,” Anand remarked, noting Gukesh’s ability to survive tough positions and still rack up points.
Anand, however, tempered the praise with constructive criticism, stating that Gukesh had made “questionable decisions” early in games—not during time pressure—and needs to “catch up with the likes of Caruana, Carlsen, and Nakamura.”
Despite the ups and downs, Anand emphasized Gukesh’s resilience and resourcefulness, even if his current success relies too much on defensive brilliance.
“You don’t want to depend on those defensive skills too often. But you have to admire how resourceful he is,” Anand added.
Gukesh now leads the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 after three days of rapid play, suggesting that the champion may be rediscovering his rhythm on the global stage.
