The Changing Guard: Why Anand Wants Gukesh to Watch Praggnanandhaa’s Playbook

As R Praggnanandhaa carves his name into history with a landmark Norway Chess victory, the legend Viswanathan Anand suggests a path forward for a struggling D Gukesh.

The landscape of Indian chess is shifting at a velocity that even the most seasoned observers find dizzying. When R Praggnanandhaa clinched the Norway Chess title recently, he didn't just add a trophy to his cabinet; he became the first Indian to ever conquer the tournament. It was a masterclass in resilience—a spectacular turnaround in the final four rounds that culminated in a victory over Vincent Keymer. For those tracking the sport through the Hindustan Times or global broadcasts, the signal was clear: Praggnanandhaa is in a different rhythm, one that includes twice defeating Magnus Carlsen in classical chess.

Yet, in this golden era of Indian grandmasters, the narrative is not one of singular dominance, but of a high-stakes internal race. Viswanathan Anand, the bedrock of Indian chess, has been watching this evolution closely. While celebrating Praggnanandhaa’s "amazingly impressive concepts," Anand has offered a sobering nudge to the reigning world champion, D Gukesh, who finished a distant sixth in the same tournament. To Anand, Gukesh currently appears "stuck," and the solution isn't a radical overhaul, but a lesson in persistence from his own compatriot.

The Art of the Turnaround

Anand’s assessment is rooted in the reality of form swings. He points out that the version of Praggnanandhaa winning in Norway is essentially the same player he has been for the last year and a half. The difference lies in the psychological capacity to stay in the fight. "He is always ready for a fight," Anand noted, suggesting that even when results don't immediately follow, the process remains consistent. It is this refusal to buckle after a rough start that Gukesh, who has openly admitted to battling the weight of expectations, must now emulate.

The dynamic between these young stars is changing the sport globally. Players like Hikaru Nakamura or even Carlsen are no longer the only ones setting the pace; they are now being hunted by a trio of Indians—Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Arjun Erigaisi—who are constantly pushing each other to higher tiers of performance.

The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters

This isn't just about individual rankings; it is a structural shift in the Indian sporting ecosystem. For years, the country looked to a lone icon; now, it has a cohort of peers pushing the limits of the game. Anand’s public encouragement for Gukesh to look toward Praggnanandhaa for inspiration speaks to a healthy, competitive ecosystem where "form swings" are treated as temporary hurdles rather than career-defining failures.

The implication is clear: the era of the lone wolf is over. As these players continue to trade spots at the top, the real winner is the sport itself. Gukesh has the talent, but as Anand suggests, the ability to endure the "stuck" periods through hard work and consistent mental application—the kind Praggnanandhaa displayed in his Norway campaign—will define who stays at the summit in the long run.