Chess Mentorship: How Praggnanandhaa’s Norway Triumph Offers a Blueprint for Gukesh

Viswanathan Anand believes the shifting fortunes of India's young grandmasters reflect the high-stakes, evolving nature of modern chess.

The board is never static, and neither are the fortunes of the young prodigies currently leading the Indian chess revolution. As R. Praggnanandhaa celebrates his historic Norway Chess victory—a tournament where he showcased both tactical grit and a dramatic late-stage turnaround—the spotlight has shifted to D. Gukesh, who finished sixth. For the legendary Viswanathan Anand, this isn't a crisis of talent for Gukesh, but rather a moment that demands a shift in perspective.

Anand, while speaking to the press, was quick to highlight the "spectacular" nature of Praggnanandhaa’s performance. After a sluggish start, Praggnanandhaa’s ability to dig deep in the final four rounds proved his mettle. According to the five-time world champion, it is this "ready for a fight" mentality that Gukesh should study. "Gukesh seems to be stuck a bit," Anand noted, suggesting that even at the highest levels, form is rarely a straight line.

The Art of the Turnaround

The contrast between the two players is a masterclass in how professional chess is changing. While Praggnanandhaa has maintained a consistent, aggressive style for nearly a year and a half, his recent Norway Chess title proves that persistence eventually yields results. Anand’s advice to Gukesh is simple: don't let the current slump define the trajectory. With Gukesh preparing for his upcoming title defence against Javokhir Sindarov, the pressure is mounting, but history shows that form swings are a fundamental feature of the elite circuit.

Why it Matters: The New Indian Order

The bigger picture here is the unprecedented depth of Indian talent. For decades, the nation looked to a single pioneer; now, we have a trio—Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi—pushing each other to reach levels that are arguably redefining the game. Anand himself admits that the game is changing so dynamically that it is difficult to compare this era to his own.

This rivalry is driving the country into the top three globally. The stakes are no longer just about individual titles; it is about a collective push that is altering the global chess hierarchy. As these young GMs sharpen their claws against each other, the "swings" that Anand mentions are merely the friction required to polish three diamonds simultaneously. Whether Gukesh can replicate the resilience Praggnanandhaa showed in Norway will likely determine who carries the momentum into the next championship cycle.