India (Commonwealth Union)_ Before traveling to the United States for the St. Louis Rapid and Blitz competition, World Chess Champion D. Gukesh paid a brief but memorable visit to Poland, a nation that played an important role in his rise to the top of the chess world. The 18-year-old Indian Grandmaster, who became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion last year, was a special guest in Poland, where he once trained extensively during his preparation for the World Championship match against China’s Ding Liren. His short stopover turned into a heartwarming celebration.
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During his visit, Gukesh faced off in a six-game blitz exhibition match against Polish Grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda, a key member of his championship team. Although Duda dominated the match 5-1, the result was secondary to the atmosphere that surrounded the event. Gukesh spent his time in Poland focusing on appreciation rather than competitiveness. One of the highlights of the excursion was a helicopter journey to the picturesque village of Ustroń, where the Ustroń Chess Festival was in full swing. As he landed, hundreds of young admirers greeted him with a giant banner that said, “Welcome Gukesh.” The reaction expressed Poland’s profound appreciation for the young champion. At a nearby café, a barista even made him a coffee with latte art in his likeness, a simple but poignant gesture that represented the local chess community’s adoration.
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Addressing a hall packed with young chess players, Gukesh shared his gratitude. “I’m very glad to be here and see all of you,” he said. “I’ve been in Ustroń since yesterday, and I can really feel the enthusiasm for chess. It’s wonderful to be part of this festival. I hope you all had a great time and played some exciting games. Keep loving chess—thank you for having me.” Gukesh’s bond with Poland goes beyond admiration. It’s deeply personal. Warsaw played a significant role in his preparation for last year’s championship, with more Polish players than Indians making up his training team. That included his main coach since 2023, Grandmaster Grzegorz Gajewski, as well as prominent Polish players like Radosław Wojtaszek, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Jan Klimkowski. Indian GM Pentala Harikrishna and Germany’s Vincent Keymer were also part of the team. “At one point, I was spending more time in Warsaw than in Chennai,” Gukesh admitted during a visit to Katowice, where he and Duda played another friendly blitz series.
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While in Katowice, Gukesh also spoke candidly about his personal growth over the past few years. He credited practices like yoga and meditation for helping him manage his emotions, something he struggled with earlier in his career. “I used to be very impulsive and short-tempered,” he said. “If I lost a game, it would affect my mood, and I’d carry that into the next few games. I realized I needed to manage my emotions better. That’s when I started doing meditation and yoga, and it really helped—not just in chess, but in all areas of life.”
Gukesh identified himself as a yoga beginner, but he stressed the benefits it had on his thinking and performance. The inner peace he achieved via these techniques was invaluable as he competed against some of the world’s greatest players. Gukesh’s historic World Championship triumph over Ding Liren in Singapore earlier this year (7.5-6.5) was a significant milestone. He became only the second Indian to win the world title, following the famous Viswanathan Anand. His brief return to Poland was a celebration not only of a young champion’s success but also of the quiet dedication, international collaboration, and personal growth that helped him reach the pinnacle of the game.
