The transition from challenger to reigning monarch in the world of classical chess is seldom seamless, but for D. Gukesh, the youngest World Champion in history, the year 2025 has proved a relentless gauntlet. After reaching the pinnacle of the sport in late 2024, his subsequent performance has been characterized by sharp inconsistency, prompting a strategic overhaul orchestrated by his coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, with one goal in mind: the successful defense of the title in 2026.
The Paradox of Performance: Brilliance Undermined by Inconsistency
Gukesh’s 2025 calendar was a statistical paradox. On one hand, the young champion showcased moments of pure, undeniable brilliance. Early in the year, he narrowly missed the Tata Steel Masters title, losing only on tie-breaks. Crucially, he secured victories against Magnus Carlsen, both in the classical format at Norway Chess and subsequently in rapid chess during the Grand Chess Tour event in Zagreb.
Yet, these isolated high points were overshadowed by spectacular failures in the year’s most pivotal classical competitions. A third-round exit from the FIDE World Cup and a dismal 41st-place finish at the FIDE Grand Swiss were not merely poor results; they were tactical calamities that, by the standards of a world champion, are unacceptable. Further struggles in high-level classical tournaments, such as the Sinquefield Cup and the Superbet Chess Classic, cemented 2025 as a deeply challenging period for the reigning champion.
The challenges were not confined to classical time controls. Gukesh continued to struggle significantly in faster formats, particularly during the high-stakes Freestyle Chess Tour. This overall downturn—where world-beating performances mingle jarringly with early exits—has naturally fueled skepticism regarding the stability and legitimacy of his reign.
The Coach`s Analysis: The Psychological Weight of Success
Grzegorz Gajewski, Gukesh’s coach, is not naive to the statistical evidence, but he offers a crucial contextual defense. He attributes the volatility to two primary factors: age and psychological saturation.
“When you work all your life for something, and then you get it, you have to find new motivations. It can be difficult for someone so young,” Gajewski noted, addressing the unique psychological strain placed on a teenager who conquered his Everest prematurely.
The chess establishment, however, possesses a notoriously short memory and an exacting standard. The consensus, particularly voiced by titans like Garry Kasparov and Carlsen, is that a World Champion must demonstrate near-perfection across all formats. Kasparov notably suggested that the crown did not carry the same weight resting on Gukesh`s head as it did on his or Carlsen`s. This is the ultimate technical irony: Gukesh is being judged against the idealized, decades-long consistency of masters who were considerably older when they secured their respective titles.
Gajewski, while acknowledging the noise, remains firm on the meritocracy of the title:
“Does he deserve the world championship? Of course he does, because he won it.”
The Technical Blueprint for 2026: Selectivity Over Saturation
The most significant strategic takeaway from the difficult year of 2025 is the acknowledgement of over-saturation. Gukesh’s schedule this year was grueling, spanning the Freestyle Chess Tour, the Grand Chess Tour, major classical invitationals (Tata Steel, Norway Chess), and several high-profile exhibitions.
The team is now grappling with the difficult balance between maximizing competitive exposure—essential for the development of any champion—and ensuring necessary rest and focused preparation. Gajewski’s blueprint for 2026 mandates selectivity.
The priority is clear: the defense of the classical crown. This commitment requires a less fragmented approach to the competitive circuit. While opportunities to play against the world’s elite—such as the Clutch Chess event where Gukesh faced Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Fabiano Caruana—are invaluable for technical education, the sheer volume of such events has proven detrimental to sustained form.
For the immediate future, Gukesh’s focus remains anchored to classical chess, the format that validated his title. However, the team will not neglect other disciplines entirely, recognizing the importance of maintaining competitiveness. A continued aggressive approach to major rapid and blitz events, such as the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, is anticipated as a method of keeping tactical reflexes sharp without compromising classical preparation time.
Conclusion: The Path to Validation
Gukesh himself has humbly stated that he recognizes he is not currently the best player in the world, but that is his aspiration. The data from 2025 suggests he drifted further from that goal than he was when he won the title. However, 2026 offers an opportunity for a decisive correction.
The defense of the World Championship title is more than a competition; it is an act of validation. A successful defense would not only confirm his place at the summit but would also render the incessant questions about his legitimacy logically inconsistent. It is the ultimate antidote to critical noise. Grzegorz Gajewski and D. Gukesh, having completed the gruelling journey once, are now fully committed to the technical and psychological grind required to secure a second, arguably more difficult, triumph.
