Gukesh's Coach Outlines 2026 Chess Focus Amid Championship Pressure
Grzegorz Gajewski, the coach of chess world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, recently shared insights into the young player's journey and upcoming plans. In an exclusive interview, Gajewski discussed Gukesh's turbulent 2025 and the strategy for 2026, which includes defending his world championship title.
A Year of Broadened Focus and Scrutiny
2025 proved to be a challenging year for Gukesh, the youngest world champion in chess history. He participated in numerous tournaments, expanding his play beyond classical chess to include rapid, blitz, freestyle, and exhibition events. However, success remained elusive, with defeats at events like the FIDE World Cup and FIDE Grand Swiss drawing intense public scrutiny.
Each loss sparked widespread discussion about his form, putting unprecedented pressure on the champion. For Gukesh, 2026 offers a chance to refocus primarily on classical chess, as he must defend his world championship title at year's end.
Scaling Back for Championship Preparation
Gajewski confirmed that Gukesh will reduce his tournament schedule in 2026. "For sure, we won't be playing too many events," he stated. "We will play in the most important ones, simply because he is very young and playing is kind of the best thing for him to grow."
The coach emphasized that while official plans are still being finalized, they intend to stay active but scale back significantly. "Some of the exhibition matches, online events, we will have to skip, that's certain," Gajewski added, highlighting a strategic shift towards prioritizing key competitions.
Navigating Criticism and Personal Growth
Despite external criticism over Gukesh's busy schedule, Gajewski noted that the champion remains unfazed. "I don't think he is even aware of that," he said. "He is just focused on his chess, not on the comments from the outside world."
Over their three-year partnership, Gajewski has observed significant maturation in Gukesh. "He is certainly maturing as a person. He is not a kid anymore. He is a grown-up," the coach explained. This growth brings new challenges, as Gukesh now faces adult pressures in a unique position as the youngest-ever world champion.
Unique Pressures and Competitive Adjustments
Gajewski elaborated on the distinct pressures Gukesh experiences. "He is the youngest world champion ever, so he is the first one in history to experience this kind of pressure that early in life," he said. "All of his opponents experience pressure, but not as high as Gukesh."
The coach acknowledged that this situation is challenging but necessary. "We just have to adjust. We just have to get used to it," Gajewski stated, noting that Gukesh's mindset has evolved significantly in recent months to accept and understand his competitive environment.
Learning from Losses and Improving Performance
Reflecting on 2025's setbacks, Gajewski attributed some losses to excessive effort. "For sure, some of the losses were a direct result of just trying too hard," he admitted. However, he pointed to improvements in Gukesh's resilience, particularly during events like the World Rapid and Blitz in Qatar.
"He was able to cope with some of the losses in a much better way," Gajewski observed. "He understands the sport, and especially those faster time controls, it's not easy to end up in the best places."
Focus on Patience and Confidence for 2026
Looking ahead, Gajewski identified key priorities for Gukesh's chess development in 2026. "Chess-wise, we're looking for patience and confidence," he said. "That's what we are hoping to see. Because both of them combined, I'm sure they are going to give him great results."
With the world championship match looming, Gukesh and his coach are concentrating on building these qualities to secure a successful title defense. The journey continues as the young champion prepares to write the next chapter in his historic career.
