Gukesh: What It Takes to Become a World Chess Champion 🏆

Inspiring Parents Through Gukesh’s Journey

Behind every young champion lies a story of dedication, sacrifice, and balanced parenting. Gukesh’s extraordinary rise in chess offers more than just inspiration—it serves as a guide for parents nurturing their child’s chess dreams.

As a Grandmaster and FIDE Trainer, I’ve seen many parents approach Chess Gaja Academy with hopes of raising a champion, sometimes underestimating the time, effort, and patience required. This blog aims to set realistic expectations while offering practical insights, blending my experience with Gukesh’s remarkable journey.

The Champion’s Formula 📊

🧠 Early Start: Chess learning can begin as early as 2.5 years.
🎯 Game Count: 140–150 classical games per year is the benchmark.
⏳ Time Commitment: 7–8 hours of focused training daily is the reality.
⚖️ Holistic Growth: Emotional health and physical fitness matter.
🤝 Parental Role: Encourage, motivate, and avoid pressurizing.
🚀 Long-Term Vision: Success is a marathon, not a sprint.

Let’s break this down with stories, examples, and actionable advice.

The Changing Landscape – When Early Matters ⏳

Gukesh started chess at 7 years old, but today’s rising stars, like Anish Sarkar, began at 2.5 years. The chess landscape has changed, and early exposure offers an edge. However, starting early doesn’t guarantee success unless it’s paired with genuine interest and consistent effort.

At such a young age, children primarily learn through play. Structured training can come later, but introducing chess in a fun, engaging way helps create a positive first impression. Parents sometimes mistake early exposure as a sign of future greatness, but talent unfolds differently in each child.

📈 Real Example: Anish Sarkar became a FIDE-rated player at just 3 years and 8 months. His journey showcases the importance of nurturing curiosity over imposing structured routines too soon.

🔹 My Take: Start young, but let curiosity lead the way. Don’t rush into intense training schedules prematurely. Use storytelling, playful challenges, and light coaching to build interest organically. If your child’s eyes light up at the sight of a chessboard, you’ve already won half the battle. At Chess Gaja we have curated a lot of useful chess content to help you teach chess to the kids

Talent Meets Discipline 🧠

While talent is a spark, discipline is the fuel. Many young players show immense potential but fail to realize it due to a lack of structure and consistency. Gukesh’s father, Dr. Rajinikanth, instilled the principle of “finish every tournament, regardless of results.” This lesson in resilience became one of Gukesh’s defining traits.

Discipline vs Talent: Talent may win games, but discipline wins championships. Children often face setbacks, and it’s natural to feel disappointed. However, it’s crucial to help them see failures as opportunities to grow rather than reasons to quit.

📈 Real Example: Abhimanyu Mishra became the youngest Grandmaster at 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days. Behind this milestone was not just talent but countless hours of disciplined training.

🔹My Take: Goals must come from the child, not be imposed by parents. Pay attention to whether your child naturally enjoys solving puzzles, analysing positions, and playing long games. Encourage small daily wins – like completing a training goal or learning a new tactic. Avoid tying your child’s self-worth to results

Game Count – Every Game is a Lesson 🎲

How many games are enough? In the past, Botvinnik recommended playing 80–90 classical games per year. However, the modern chess landscape demands more. Young champions like Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Abdusattarov played over 150 classical games per year during their formative years.

In 2018, Gukesh played an astounding 224 classical games while chasing his GM title. Every tournament, every loss, and every move contributed to his growth.

Parents often worry about their child’s rating dropping after a series of losses. However, avoiding tournaments to “protect” their rating is counterproductive.

🔹 My Take: Treat every game as a stepping stone. Wins bring confidence, and losses bring lessons. Embrace tournaments as learning labs, not performance evaluations. Never pause tournaments solely to protect ratings; growth happens in the arena, not outside it.

The Reality of Daily Practice ⏳

Chess mastery isn’t built on occasional bursts of effort but on consistent daily practice. Both Gukesh and Anish Sarkar reportedly trained for 7–8 hours daily from a young age. This might sound extreme, but it’s the level of commitment required to excel at the global stage.

Training for young players should be split into the following

Opening preparation (15%)
Middlegame strategies (60%)
Endgame techniques (25%)
Tournament simulations

🔹 My Take: Structure practice with clarity. Divide the day into focused segments and ensure regular breaks to avoid burnout. Celebrate small milestones and avoid last-minute cramming before tournaments. Quality practice always outweighs quantity.

Balancing Chess, School, and Life ⚖️

Gukesh transitioned to homeschooling around grade 4–5 to focus on chess full-time. This path, while effective for him, isn’t suitable for every child.

For most children, balancing chess with traditional schooling provides stability. Chess is mentally demanding, and burnout is a real risk. Incorporating physical activity and maintaining emotional well-being are equally important.

🔹 My Take: Prioritize balance. If homeschooling is the path you choose, ensure strong academic guidance and emotional care. Encourage physical activities and hobbies outside chess to maintain a well-rounded routine.

Parenting the Chess Prodigy 💪

Parental involvement can make or break a child’s chess journey. In Gukesh’s case, his father sacrificed his medical career to accompany him on his chess journey.

Supportive Parenting Means:

Celebrating effort, not just results.
Creating an emotionally safe space for failure.
Trusting the coach’s methods.

🔹 My Take: Parenting a chess prodigy is about walking alongside them, not pushing them from behind. Here are a few additional practical ways to support your child’s chess journey as a parent.

Trusting the Ecosystem 🌍

Behind every chess champion lies a team of coaches, mentors, and supportive parents. Trust in your child’s coach is paramount.

📈 Real Example: Gukesh’s coach, GM Vishnu, advised against using chess engines early in training. This unconventional approach worked because the parents trusted the coach completely.

🔹 My Take: Once you’ve chosen a reliable coach, give them the freedom to guide your child without interference.

Walking the Journey Together 💟

Success in chess is not about overnight results; it’s about patience, dedication, and trust.

Final Thought: “Parenting a chess prodigy isn’t about pushing them to succeed. It’s about walking alongside them, one move at a time.”

Your Child’s Chess Journey Starts Here with Chess Gaja Academy 🚀

At Chess Gaja Academy, we believe every child has a unique chess journey waiting to unfold. With a team of world-class coaches and a structured approach, we are here to guide, inspire, and nurture your child’s passion for chess—one move at a time.

Whether your child dreams of becoming the next World Champion or simply wants to sharpen their mind through the game, we are here to support every step of the way.