Gukesh's Coach Outlines 2026 Strategy: Patience and Confidence Key for Title Defense
Grzegorz Gajewski, the full-time coach of chess world champion D Gukesh, recently shared insights into the young prodigy's plans for 2026. Gajewski, who has guided Gukesh since 2023, emphasized that the coming year will focus on two crucial elements: patience and confidence.
A Challenging 2025 Season
The year 2025 proved difficult for Gukesh and his team. After a dominant 2024 that saw him become the youngest world champion in chess history, Gukesh faced a string of losses. Tournament organizers eagerly invited him to numerous events, including exhibitions, rapid, and blitz competitions. Gukesh participated in many, but the results did not meet expectations.
This led to intense scrutiny of his form. Critics compared him to previous champions. However, Gajewski notes that Gukesh remains largely unaffected by external noise. The teenager stays focused on his chess, ignoring outside comments.
Scaling Back for 2026
Gajewski confirms a strategic shift for 2026. The team plans to reduce Gukesh's tournament load. They will skip some exhibition matches and online events. Instead, Gukesh will concentrate on the most important classical tournaments.
This decision comes as Gukesh prepares to defend his world title at the end of the year. He has already withdrawn from the Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz in Kolkata. His 2026 campaign will begin at the Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.
"We will have to scale back, for sure," Gajewski states. "Some of the exhibition matches, online events, we will have to skip. We won't be playing too many events this year. We'll play the most important ones as we are planning to stay active. Simply because he is very young and playing is the best thing for him to grow."
Maturity and Growth
Gajewski has observed significant personal growth in Gukesh over the past three years. The coach highlights the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Qatar as an example. There, Gukesh handled losses better than before. He aimed for top positions and, though unsuccessful, managed his disappointment well.
"He's certainly maturing as a person," Gajewski explains. "He is very young, but not a kid anymore. He is aware of many things that previously were not so obvious to him. This makes it a bit trickier because when you are a kid, you don't care. You cry a little, and then you move on. But now, he feels the grown-up's pressure. The expectations he puts on himself are heavier now."
Learning from Experience
Gajewski, who also worked with Viswanathan Anand during his world championship campaigns, points out that some 2025 defeats resulted from trying too hard. The pressure on Gukesh is immense as the youngest world champion ever. Yet, Gajewski views this as a valuable learning opportunity.
"I'm happy that he is getting this kind of experience," Gajewski says. "None of his opponents have this opportunity. They all experience pressure, but not as high as Gukesh."
With the world championship defense approaching, 2026 will be a defining year for Gukesh. His coach believes that combining patience and confidence will yield great results. Gukesh's journey continues as he navigates the challenges of defending his crown while growing as a player and individual.
