HTLS 2024 highlights: India next big thing in chess, say Vidit Gujrathi and Harika Dronavalli

If Gukesh strikes initially at World Chess Championship, Ding Liren will find it tough, says Vidit Gujrathi. “I saw that he was struggling a bit in the last 20. He lost ten rating points. So it just shows that he is also not at his peak. He had a good performance, but then again a bit of a slump. So now I'm very curious to see how they will react. I think Magnus put it very nicely that if the match goes on equally for some time, then Ding’s confidence will increase. But if Gukesh strikes early itself, then it will be tough for Ding to come back. The first two games are very vital,” says Vidit Gujrathi

Vidit Gujrathi says that Gukesh is a favourite to win the World Championship against Ding Liren. “Gukesh is the favorite. And as Harika said, all Indians want him to win and bring back the world title to India. If I've got to actually analyse the match – before the last tournament which Gukesh played, he was a heavy favourite, like probably 70-30 or even more, because in all of that, he had a sensational performance. Nine out of ten on Board 1. One of the best performances in history for Olympiad on Board 1. At the same time, Ding [Liren] was struggling there. His game is lacking that spark. Ding, I feel he's lacking confidence because he has not had a good tournament in two years. He is mentally not in the best headspace, as everyone knows. He himself has admitted that. And physically too, when I played against him in Amsterdam, I saw him suffering… like his body was twitching. I felt bad. But I hope it has gotten better since,” says Vidit Gujrathi

“I think Ding was at his best in 2018, 2019; he was playing an exceptionally high level of chess. He had an unbeaten streak of more than 80-plus games. I think probably more. And if he can even match that performance in some of the games, he can play a really good match. The problem, though, is his confidence. It's so ingrained, the confidence part and your moves that you cannot separate that. When you're confident, you don't hesitate. You don't double and triple-check your calculations. You just play with that instinct. And the faster you play, that confidence reflects on your opponent. He also feels intimidated. It's all interconnected. If he can bring that performance back or some part of it – like he did in his peak – then it will be a good match,” says Vidit Gujrathi.

Harika Dronavalli says that she hopes Gukesh wins the World Championship but also wants to see a good match for the sake of the viewers. "Vidit has explained everything. I would just like to add that I like most of the things about these youngsters, be is Gukesh, Pragg, Arjun, Vaishali. I have seen them developing as players. And I've also seen them being extremely humble. And I think that's one thing I'm really impressed with. In the Olympiad especially, I was having some tough time with my results. But then I used to see all the boys coming in, winning all the games, and that definitely inspired me," says Harika Dronavalli.

Vidit Gujrathi says that Gukesh gains a lot with his strength for calculation and his fighting spirit. "It makes sense, because in the shorter formats, he has not had the same performance when it comes to classical. He has also not taken them as seriously I feel. Because he just enjoys classical chess more. Even online chess, for example, Arjun plays a lot more Nihal plays a lot. Whereas Gukesh, I don't think plays online chess. And also, he's not really trained in the shorter formats. I agree with Magnus' point of view on Gukesh. Sometimes he suggests some strange moves, which also takes you back. So intuition is probably not his strongest suit, but he compensates for it with his fighting spirit and calculation," says Vidit Gujrathi.

Vidit Gujrathi talks about how working with Paddy Upton has helped Gukesh. "Him as a person and him on the board are very different people. Him outside the board is a very mischievous, fun kid. But when it comes to the board, you can see it in his game face that he just wants to defeat you. He reminds you of Garry Kasparov when he's at the chess board. Earlier in the past few years, whenever we played team championships, he used to be very much by himself. He needed his own space. He was not interacting as much. But at the Olympiad, I saw a transformation in him. He was much more outgoing. He was talking. He was having more fun. I think something changed since his Candidates win. Also, I think he has been working with Paddy Upton, who worked with Indian cricket team when they won the World Cup. So I'm sure he has been working a lot on his mental aspect of training and mental conditioning. And that's showing. I think that's one of his biggest strengths," says Vidit Gujrathi.

Vidith Gujrathi explains why Gukesh thinks a little differently from the others. “Gukesh has a very interesting upbringing when it comes to chess because, for the first 14 years or something, until he became a Grandmaster, he did not use chess engines at all. He was advised by his coach not to use the computer, so that he keeps his original thinking and that's why the way he thinks is very different from others, because he was not influenced by the modern chess engines. His thinking is very original, and I think it will remain. Of course, you have to adapt to the ways, but he keeps his unique flavour,” says Vidit Gujrathi

Vidit Gujrathi says that he had invited Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa home for a training camp before the 2017 World Cup. “I've seen Gukesh for a very long time. In fact, there was a time when I played in 2017 World Cup and I had invited over Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa to my home. We had a training camp there. I still have, the images of them just being like 13, 15. I don't know how young they were,” says Vidit Gujrathi

Harika Dronavalli says that becoming a mother has helped her enjoy playing chess more. “It makes me feel like one of the oldest players because I have seen all the changes in the chess fraternity. I have always seen how these youngsters are right now. I was in this space where I used to play one tournament after the other. I used to think that this is so stressful and everything was about winning. But ever since I became a mother, I realise there are much more stressful things – related to your toddler. Then I started valuing it more – getting an opportunity to sit at board and practice, to go and play chess on the board in tournaments. I started giving more value to it,” says Harika Dronavalli.

“Now, I don't think playing chess is stressful. I'm actually enjoying it. I'm enjoying whatever time I get in tournaments, to go and play for country. The result is obviously important now, but not as much as it was earlier. Now, I think I'm enjoying more of playing because after becoming the mother, you realise your preferences. Your priorities change a lot. But at the same time, you have been brought up in such a way you're used to this kind of life and suddenly, to leave all this is not going to be easy. So I'm trying to balance both – to enjoy chess and also to spend some time with my daughter and try to teach her and things,” says Harika Dronavalli.

A lot of difference has come after the Olympiad win, says Harika Dronavalli. "This is my 25th year since I started my first world Youth championship. I can say that I've seen all sides of chess, in general, how it all started and how we used to play even when there was no recognition at all. We used to go play for the country, come back and no one would know or notice. And, then I have seen so much of it change. There's been a lot of difference since the Olympiad win. There were so many people on the streets of London, coming to take a photo, which was not usual. So it took time to get used to this and to understand the importance of this Olympiad win. It makes a huge difference. But I think because I have seen the changes and shift from the way of recognition," says Harika Dronavalli.

Vidit Gujrathi says that it took about two or three months for him to settle down after the disappointment he faced at the Candidates. “The world of sports is very dynamic and things keep changing. Right now, I'm in a very good headspace. After the Candidates, I didn't know what was next because it was one of the biggest tournaments of my life. And I prepared a lot for it. Six months without any distractions. Just focused on one goal. There were some good moments, but it did not finish as I wanted. So after that, there was a feeling of emptiness. I did not know what I was going to do next. If this was the highest I could go in my career. I was confused. I took some time off for myself and tried to figure out what my ambitions, next goals are. But after two-three months, things settled down,” says Vidit Gujrathi.

“Now I'm again feeling very good. I've been playing lots of tournaments. I think this year probably I've been home maybe two months max in the entire year, which is very less. So I'm always on the road. But I'm excited to play. One thing which has changed is that when I go to a game, there's a lot of, excitement. Earlier, there used to be a lot of anxiety, so I guess I'm just enjoying it more. Maybe it's also that when you smell victory, you feel nice and it helps you to enjoy it more. I hope it continues,” says Vidit Gujrathi.

Harika Dronavalli says that competition getting tougher in women's chess is good news for India. “Yeah, definitely. I think it's one of the best moments for Indian women's chess. I can see that we already have a third grandmaster, Vaishali,” says Harika Dronavalli. "And I'm sure there are many more are coming up. I haven't seen this close a gap in many years. I think that's where I can say this is one of the best scenes we are having in women's chess in India, and all that gives a very good impression.

"Once the competition is stronger, people will work better and become stronger. That's how it is always. When you have tougher competition, you get stronger. And I'm sure that it's going to be even better in future. Already girls are being inspired. They are taking up chess. But they should have really high ambitions. Not to just become grandmasters but have higher goals. I'm sure they can do it if they just keep looking in that direction," Harika Dronavalli adds.

Vidit Gujrathi says that nothing matches joy of winning an Olympiad gold. “Personally, it's a moment which fills me with pride. I have had a lot of individual achievements, but nothing matches the joy and the feel of winning an Olympiad gold. I think it's just unparalleled. So I'm very happy. But as Harika said, life moves on. I've been playing other tournaments and focused on my, other goals after that,” says Vidit Gujrathi.

Vidit Gujrathi is confident that Indian chess is on the rise “Congrats for completing 100 years to Hindustan Times. I mean that's fantastic,” he first says before stating that Indian chess is on “an upward trajectory.”

"It has not plateaued because there's a World Championship going to happen in November, where Gukesh is representing India. And he can become the youngest world champion in history. So he has a very good chance. After the Olympiad, we saw that. For example, I was in London and one person just walked up and said that he started following chess after our Olympiad win.

“And he told me that he knows all the players, been following all the games. And that was just after the Olympiad. Before that, he was not so much into it. So it showed that this win has brought in more people into the sport. And after the World Championship, I'm sure it will happen again, and more youngsters will probably be inspired by Gukesh and other players. Chess can become one of the most popular sports in India after cricket,” says Vidit Gujrathi.

Harika Dronavalli says that she had been dreaming about winning the Olympiad gold since she was a kid. "I mean, it took a lot of time to sink in completely. I still remember the moment. It was the 22nd, and it was imprinted very clearly. It was such a moment to be on the stage and take the gold medal. It's been a long dream. This was my 20th year playing Olympiad. Ten Olympiads. I have been dreaming about this since I was a kid. There were times when I really wanted to be on that podium, and I never understood why we weren't there.

"So, it's been a long story. And, on 22nd September, everything came true. That's a moment I wanted to stop. But life goes on. So, yeah, this is one of the most special moments for me as a player for the fraternity. Men and women team winning at the same time. I think, yeah, this is very special for India," says Harika on being asked about winning the Olympiad gold," says Harika Dronavalli

Indian Grandmasters Harika Dronavalli and Vidit Gujrathi will shortly be in conversation with Susan Ninan, Senior Assistant Editor, Hindustan Times

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