New Delhi: World champion D Gokesh is known for his calm demeanor and cool demeanor on the chessboard. That’s why his emotional celebration after defeating Jakhir Sindarov at the Grand Chess Tour Super Rapid and Blitz 2026 tournament in Poland on Wednesday gained instant attention in the chess world.The Indian grandmaster rarely shows emotion during games, but moments after sealing victory against the Uzbek prodigy, Gokesh pumped his fists while sitting on the board, a rare glimpse of how much the win meant to him.
The victory had added significance as it was his first meeting with Sundarov since the Uzbek emerged as Gokesh’s challenger for the world championships later that year.Watch the celebration here:The result also came at a crucial time for Gakesh. The reigning champion recently withdrew from the main Grand Chess Tour circuit to focus on preparation and getting back into rhythm before defending his world title. Questions were raised over his form after a disappointing loss to Poland’s Radoslaw Wojtaszek in the previous round. Sandroff also joined the fray after losing to tournament leader Wesley Su.But against his future title opponent, Gokesh looked completely off.Playing with the black pieces, the Indian opted for the Caro-Kann defense and confidently moved into a fast, dynamic position after Sandroff opted for an unorthodox setup. The aggressive style suited Gokesh perfectly. As the middle game unfolded, the Indian gradually took control, before taking advantage of Sundarov’s dangerous attacking efforts to win a pawn.The pressure gradually shifted to the Uzbek Grandmaster. Gokesh calmly absorbed the onslaught, picked up more material and eased the game after exchanging queens. From there, the result was never in doubt as the Indian easily converted his advantage in 52 moves.In the end, an emotional fist pump may express more than words. It wasn’t just another tournament win for Gokesh. It was an early psychological statement against the player who hopes to lift his world crown later this year.
