New Delhi: India’s young chess star De Gokesh has come under fire from former world champion Anatoly Karpov, who claimed that his title win was due more to luck than to sheer force. Gokesh defeated Ding Liren to become the youngest world champion, but some voices, particularly from Russia, have questioned the quality of the victory.
Criticism of former champions
“First, the Indian became a chess player. [champion] Coincidentally, because he didn’t have to win a match against a Chinese player. [Ding Liren]. The Chinese player lost a game there that he should not have lost. If it wasn’t for him, the Chinese player would still be the world champion,” Karpov told KP.RU, a Russian outlet. This is not the first time such criticism has surfaced. Former champion Vladimir Kramnik had previously reacted strongly, writing, “No comment, sad, the end of chess as we know it.” He also criticized the quality of play during the match, saying, “To be honest, I’m very disappointed with today’s game (Game 6). Even Game 5 wasn’t at a very high level, but today it was really — for a professional — a really poor game from both players. It’s a very disappointing level.”He added, “It’s a strange game. Both players were making mistake after mistake, tactical mistakes. It’s like they don’t have a sense of position. Maybe I’m old but it’s very basic! Of course, they’re both great players and great calculators. They calculate brilliantly.”“But I expect a bit more from a World Championship match, like ideas! Human games, human concepts! If I want to enjoy chess as a mere game of calculation, I’ll watch the World Championship of Chess Engines!”
Ding’s answer
Amid Gokesh’s criticism, Ding himself has taken a calmer approach after losing the title to Gokesh. “I am quite enjoying my current situation. I mean being a passive rated player, who rarely takes part in elite invitations. I am enjoying this rare moment of leisure,” he said in an interview recently.He added, “I occasionally play an online game: it doesn’t require hard pre-game preparation, just undivided concentration in the moment. The process itself is rewarding.”
