'I used to throw tantrums': D Gukesh shares how meditation changed his chess and life

Time of India

6 days ago

World Chess Champion D Gukesh (Insta-chessbaseindia)
World chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju has credited meditation and yoga practices for transforming him from an impulsive, short-tempered individual into a composed player who can maintain focus under pressure.
Speaking at an event in Katowice, Poland, following an exhibition blitz match against Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Gukesh shared how these practices helped him manage his emotions and improve his game.
The young champion recognized that his emotional responses were affecting his chess performance, particularly after losses, which led him to adopt meditation and yoga as coping mechanisms.
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"I was always like a very impulsive, very short-tempered kid.
I used to throw tantrums and like not manage my emotions. Then I realized that it's affecting my chess because whenever I would lose a game, the next few games too I would be very affected by it and I would not be able to play well.
So I just realized that I should manage my emotions better. That's when I started doing some good practices like meditation and yoga, which really helped me to manage my emotions. It not only helps in chess but like all walks of life," Gukesh said.
During the event in Poland, Gukesh participated in an exhibition blitz event against Jan-Krzysztof Duda, where he lost 5-1. Duda had been part of Gukesh's team when he became the youngest world champion in chess history.
When asked about specific yoga practices, Gukesh maintained a modest stance about his expertise in the discipline.
"I can't say like I'm like that advanced in yoga or something like that. But like I just do very simple and basic movement while focusing on breathing.
Most of it is related to meditation. I don't really know much about yoga. I just know some basics and I do that at work," he explained.
Despite achieving the world championship title, Gukesh continues to pursue ambitious goals in chess.
"My childhood dream was to become the world champion. But at some point it became just be the best player. The youngest and all these things didn't really matter too much to me.
It was about being the best and keep improving throughout my life to achieve that.
To be the one player in the whole world who is like the best player, who you could clearly say that this is the best player in the world. That has become my dream. It's still a long way to go."
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When questioned about his aspirations beyond chess, Gukesh expressed a desire to develop as an individual, crediting his mother Padma for instilling these values.
During the event, he maintained his humility when asked to demonstrate yoga techniques, stating "I'm not really a yoga master."
When questioned about using deep breathing during matches, he responded with humor, saying "You're overestimating my yoga skills."
Gukesh's journey to becoming the 18th world champion in chess history culminated in his victory over Ding Liren in Singapore, marking a significant milestone in his career while demonstrating the positive impact of incorporating meditation and yoga into his preparation routine.
His transformation from an emotionally reactive player to a composed world champion showcases the benefits of mental conditioning in competitive chess, though he maintains a modest approach to his practice of these techniques.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!