The Roadmap: Secrets Behind Gukesh’s Victory and How You Can Do It Too

As of January 2025, the current World Chess Champion is D. Gukesh, who just became the youngest player ever to snag the title. His win over Ding Liren has everyone talking about what it really takes to be a chess champ. What’s the secret? Let’s dive into some lessons from Gukesh’s incredible journey!

The Importance of Teamwork: Gukesh’s Winning Crew

Gukesh didn’t just rely on his own skills; he had a great team behind him. This team of experts and mentors helped him prepare for each challenge. After winning, he made sure to recognize their hard work, which is a super important lesson for anyone who wants to get better at chess: having a strong support system is as crucial as improving your own game.

Here’s a quick look at who helped Gukesh and how they made a difference:

Team Member	Role/Contribution	Impact
Grzegorz Gajewski	Head trainer for the last two years, focused on openings, strategy, and endgames.	Helped Gukesh sharpen his skills and build a solid game plan.
Radoslaw Wojtaszek	Assisted during Candidates and World Championship prep.	Gave tactical tips and helped Gukesh handle tricky positions.
Pentala Harikrishna	Supported Gukesh during the Candidates and Championship journey.	Provided emotional backup for peak performance.
Vincent Keymer	Joined in for the World Championship match, enhancing training.	Brought fresh ideas to Gukesh’s strategy, especially during the championships.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda	Helped during training camps and practice matches.	Challenged Gukesh’s strategies while simulating real-game pressure.
Jan Klimkowski	Worked with Gajewski to prepare during Candidates.	Focused on detailed opening strategies and middle game tactics.
Paddy Upton	Mental trainer who coached Gukesh on focus and resilience.	Helped Gukesh stay calm and focused, crucial for long-term success.
Viswanathan Anand	Offered advice remotely and attended some training camps.	Shared his wisdom from years of experience, helping Gukesh’s game in key moments.

Smart Opening Moves: With help from trainers like Gajewski, Gukesh made sure his opening strategies were sharp. This gave him an advantage from the start of each game.

Mental Toughness: Playing chess can make your kids think rationally. It can help improve academic performance in various subjects. Critical thinking is essential for success in school and the rest of your life.

Practicing Under Pressure: Training with top players like Duda and Keymer helped Gukesh get used to the pressure of real games, making him more prepared for the competition.

Always Learning: Gukesh was open to feedback and took advice from experienced players like Anand, which helped him tweak his strategies.

How Can You Prepare for Success?

Gukesh’s win shows that raw talent isn’t everything when it comes to being a top player. Preparing mentally and technically is just as important. If you are serious about leveling up your chess game, you need a great team to guide you.

Considering joining a structured chess school can really help you build your own winning team.

How Our Chess School Can Help You Train Like a Champion?

At The New England Chess School (NECS), we provide the resources and environment you need to succeed, similar to the support Gukesh had on his way to victory.

Like Gukesh’s trainer Gajewski, our coaches offer personalized sessions to help you sharpen your skills and build a strong chess foundation. Whether you prefer online lessons or in-person sessions, we offer classes that fit your schedule, giving you the chance to learn from the best no matter where you are.