Fresh off becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion, D Gukesh is bracing for an intense 2025 filled with exciting challenges. Speaking at an event organized by WestBridge Capital, Gukesh reflected on his historic victory while emphasizing his focus on future goals.
“2025 will offer a very tough challenge,” Gukesh said. “A lot of new and interesting tournaments are coming up. The world championship was in the past. I’m very happy about it, but now, I’m thinking about new goals and ways to prepare.”
Packed Schedule with Chess Legends
Gukesh’s 2025 journey begins with the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Tournament in the Netherlands, where he will compete against top players like Anish Giri, Erigaisi, Fabiano Caruana, and R Praggnanandhaa. The young champion secured second place last year, with Wei Yi of China taking the top spot.
In February, Gukesh will participate in the Germany leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, facing Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Later in the year, he will take on Carlsen again at Norway Chess 2025.
Proving Himself Against Carlsen
The rivalry with Carlsen adds another layer of excitement. Carlsen recently downplayed Gukesh’s world championship victory, prompting Gukesh to issue a public challenge to the Norwegian Grandmaster. These matches offer Gukesh the chance to prove himself on the global stage.
A Year of Growth and Learning
For Gukesh, 2025 is about more than just winning tournaments. “The goal is to keep improving myself, to learn, and hopefully achieve good results,” he said. The young champion is committed to building on his historic success and making strides in his chess career.
