Vidit Says Gukesh World Title Defence Is a Mental Test

Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi believes D Gukesh’s World Championship title defence against Uzbek challenger Javokhir Sindarov will be decided more by mental strength than pure chess ability. The reigning champion enters the marquee match after an inconsistent period, while Sindarov arrives in stronger form, but Vidit said Gukesh still has the capacity to rediscover the level that made 2024 such an exceptional year.

Vidit stressed that a dip in results should not be read as a decline in a top player’s underlying strength. He pointed to Gukesh’s remarkable run in 2024, when, in Vidit’s words, the Indian appeared to have the “Midas touch” and was winning wherever he played. The issue now, he suggested, is whether Gukesh can leave recent frustrations behind and approach the match with the right mindset.

Why Vidit sees a mental challenge for Gukesh

According to Vidit, elite-level form is shaped by more than a player’s understanding of the board. Mindset, physical condition and pressure can all affect whether a player is able to produce their best on a particular day. He said Gukesh continues to work hard and is bringing fresh ideas into his games, but has not consistently found the efficiency that defined his rise to the world title.

Vidit identified conversion and time pressure as areas where Gukesh has recently fallen short of his earlier standard. He said Gukesh would usually convert chances very well, but is now missing wins and coming under time pressure more often. Even so, Vidit did not view that as evidence that Gukesh cannot return to his previous level when the World Championship begins.

“It will require a lot of inner strength,” Vidit said, noting that difficult results can create a mental burden. His central question for Gukesh is whether he can forget what has happened this year and enter the contest with the mentality of a challenger rather than as a player carrying the responsibility of defending the crown.

That reset could make the contest close, Vidit said, because both Gukesh and Sindarov are very strong players. However, he acknowledged that Sindarov currently has momentum and is in better shape heading into the match. The title defence therefore carries significance not only as a clash between two leading players, but as a test of whether Gukesh can bring his best level back on chess’s biggest stage.

India also face a deep Chess Olympiad field

Vidit also looked ahead to the upcoming Chess Olympiad, where India will defend their title with a squad featuring several players in good form. He highlighted R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin, saying it is encouraging that all three are enjoying positive runs. Still, he cautioned that a successful team campaign does not require all five players to be at their peak simultaneously.

India, Vidit said, should not be considered overwhelming favourites. Uzbekistan have improved considerably and developed depth, while the United States bring a highly regarded line-up featuring Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian and Wesley So. Vidit described the expected competition as a huge fight, adding that the strength of the field is such that repeated editions could produce different winners from month to month.

For Vidit personally, the Arjuna Award carries importance because it gives wider recognition to achievements in a sport whose technical milestones may not always be familiar to the public. He said he was pleased to have been nominated and selected, while also noting that his strongest performances came between 2022 and 2024.

He explained that he consciously reduced his tournament schedule after burnout following an intense three-year period of work. The break, he said, has changed his outlook: rather than pursuing a particular tournament or Candidates cycle, he is focusing on finding the joy of playing again and taking events as they come.