World Champion D. Gukesh settled for a quick draw against Hans Niemann in the final round of the Chennai Grand Masters. The game, which began at 2 PM, ended in just an hour, while the remaining matches were still underway.
The draw helped Gukesh keep his live rating above 2700, but his recent form continues to raise concerns. Since becoming World Champion, the Indian grandmaster has lost 75 rating points over the last 19 months and entered the final round after suffering two consecutive defeats.
Speaking after the match, Hans Niemann admitted he was surprised by Gukesh’s opening approach.
“I was surprised by the lack of ambition in Gukesh’s opening. I understand the tournament situation, but I didn’t expect to receive such a generous opportunity. It’s very rare to get a winning position straight out of the opening with the black pieces against a world champion,” Niemann said.
Despite gaining an early advantage, Niemann was unable to convert the position into a victory.
When asked whether he was motivated to push Gukesh’s rating below 2700, the American dismissed the idea.
“I really don’t care. My job is to win chess games. It doesn’t matter who I’m playing.”
Niemann’s Take on the World Championship Match
Later this year, Gukesh will defend his World Championship title against Javokhir Sindarov, and Niemann believes confidence will be the deciding factor in the match.
According to him, Gukesh’s recent poor results may have affected his mindset, but a strong start could completely change the narrative.
“If he starts well and regains his confidence, his best form can return. But if he starts poorly, it could bring back memories of all the recent bad results. Still, in a 14-game match, anything can happen.”
Niemann’s Advice for Gukesh
Having rebuilt his own career after a difficult period following cheating allegations, Niemann said it is extremely difficult for outsiders to understand what a struggling player is going through mentally.
He explained that poor performances in chess are often driven more by psychological factors than technical shortcomings.
“When things go badly, people come up with different explanations. But no one truly knows what’s happening inside your mind. Chess is such a complex mental game that identifying the exact reason is incredibly difficult.”
“Gukesh and Ding’s Struggles Are Not a Surprise”
Niemann also rejected the idea that the pressure of being World Champion alone explains the decline in form of Gukesh and former champion Ding Liren.
He argued that neither player had consistently established themselves as the undisputed best player in the world before winning the title.
“People are surprised because they’re world champions. But the truth is, Gukesh and Ding were never really the best players in the world. Gukesh had an outstanding run during the Olympiad and the Candidates, while Ding had been among the world’s top players for many years. Every athlete goes through ups and downs, so their struggles are not a major surprise.”
The World Title Remains the Ultimate Prize
Despite acknowledging the immense pressure that comes with being World Champion, Niemann dismissed the suggestion that the title has lost its value.
“Everyone wants to be the world champion. To say it isn’t worth it anymore is simply not a reasonable argument.”