Grzegorz Gajewski talks of a "lesson" he learnt a decade ago. Gajewski, who was previously second to five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand and is now D Gukesh's trainer and coach, hasn't forgotten a searing loss at the Tromso Olympiad in 2014. The guy who beat him was Ding Liren - who Gukesh will go up against at the World Championship match, beginning on Monday.
Defending world champion Ding has spoken of grappling with his form and mental health, and is happy to be seen as the underdog against the 18-year-old Indian. "That loss was a nice lesson for me, fortunately a short one," Gajewski tells HT in an interview. "So, I know how well Ding can play and he's definitely not someone you should underestimate... Even during his World Championship match against (Ian) Nepomniachtchi he was supposedly out of shape, but still won. So, we want to be at our best. All this talk of favourites and predictions is just noise to us."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WANNA UNWIND? HEAD TO JLN THIS WEEKEND & LET THE MUSIC PLAY!
HT City Unwind, India's biggest food and music festival, is back in Delhi with a curated line-up that's simply stellar
INDIAN CRAFT MEETS ITALIAN FLAIR: DIVIANA DEBUTS IN MILAN WITH A STARRY AFFAIR
In the prestigious Montenapoleone Fashion District of Milan, where luxury whispers through every cobblestone, DIVIANA has carved a niche as one of India's foremost luxury furniture brands.
Hanumankind joins A$AP Rocky on stage during Thailand concert
Rapper Hanumankind, the viral sensation from Kerala, recently performed on stage with rapper A$AP Rocky in Pattaya, Thailand.
Aditya: Emmy nom was enough, a win would.be cherry on top
It's heartening to see your work get recognised on such an international platform. But the biggest validation comes from the audience.
WEDDING BELLS FOR TAMANNAAH AND VIJAY? 'KYUN NAHIN?', SHE SAYS
The actor-couple is likely to take the plunge in 2025; Bhatia says she would continue to act even after marriage’
India sizzle in sun, Australia scorched
Opener Jaiswal’s 161 and Kohli’s 30th Test century followed by the hosts’ batting tumble leave India eyeing a win in Perth
UN rules for carbon trading between nations approved
New rules allowing wealthy polluting countries to buy carbon-cutting \"offsets\" from developing nations were agreed at UN climate talks on Saturday, a move already raising fears they will be used to greenwash climate targets.
Earth bids farewell to its temporary 'mini moon'
Planet Earth is parting company with an asteroid that's been tagging along as a \"mini moon\" for the past two months.
Cops feted for rescuing 104 trafficked children
Delhi Police head constables Seema Devi and Suman Hooda were felicitated on Sunday with the inaugural Times Now Heroes award for helping rescue 104 trafficked children in nine months across three states and reuniting them with their families.
There's dearth of will to address climate crisis
The climate summit, COP29, in Baku, has ended. It lays bare the fundamental inequity and the lack of willingness of the developed world to acknowledge its role in climate change.
