World chess champion D Gukesh has said he is unfazed by the criticism surrounding his recent performances, acknowledging that the scrutiny is justified given his dip in form over the past 18 months. The young Indian Grandmaster made the remarks ahead of his participation in the Norway Chess Tournament, where he is set to begin his campaign against Germany’s Vincent Keymer.

Gukesh, who will turn 20 later this month, is in Oslo as he prepares for a busy competitive schedule that includes Norway Chess and the Chess Olympiad. His comments come amid heightened attention on his form following a series of underwhelming results across major tournaments, including finishes outside the top ranks in recent international events.

Addressing the criticism, Gukesh said he does not follow most of the commentary directed at him but accepts its validity. He admitted that his performances over the past year and a half have fallen short of expectations and added that critics are within their rights to express their views, while he focuses on improving his own game.

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The reigning world champion’s recent results include a 10th-place finish at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, a ninth-place finish at the Prague International Chess Festival, and a sixth-place finish at the Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland event. Despite these setbacks, he remains part of elite-level competition and is preparing for a world title defence later this year against challenger Javokhir Sindarov.

Gukesh also addressed broader discussions around his 2024 world championship victory over Ding Liren, which has drawn mixed commentary from several former champions and grandmasters. While some have questioned the quality of play during that match, Gukesh maintained that his focus remains on performing consistently at the highest level rather than engaging in external debates.

Looking ahead, Gukesh said he is open to playing the World Championship match anywhere in the world, though he acknowledged that hosting it in India would carry both emotional significance and added pressure. He also emphasised that defending a world title requires a different mindset compared to winning it for the first time, citing the weight of expectations as a key challenge. Despite the scrutiny and uneven results, Gukesh expressed confidence in his approach, stating that his primary objective remains simple: to play strong chess and continue competing at the highest level.

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