Vishnu Prasanna: The Mentor Behind World Champion Gukesh's Unique Playing Style

Mumbai, Dec 13 (NationPress) 'Harmonious chaos' is the term used by chess Grandmaster Vishnu Prasanna to characterize the playing style of D Gukesh, the newly declared youngest World Champion in history. Prasanna is well-acquainted with this style, having been Gukesh's first coach and guiding him in its development.

'He excels in harmonious chaos. To him, what seems chaotic to others appears harmonious. While others might view it as disorder, he perceives it as a form of harmony. He has thrived in this space, demonstrating remarkable concreteness and precision, more so than many globally,' Prasanna shared with IANS shortly after Gukesh achieved chess's highest honor.

On Thursday, the 18-year-old Gukesh became the 18th World Chess Champion, joining the ranks of Viswanathan Anand as the second Indian to earn this title. During the 2024 World Chess Final held in Singapore, Gukesh triumphed over Ding Liren with a score of 7.5-6.5, seizing victory through a significant blunder made by the Chinese player in a seemingly equal position during the final game. This win enabled the young Indian to surpass Garry Kasparov's record, who claimed the championship at the age of 22 in 1985.

Prasanna emphasized that he refrained from imposing his own playing style on the young Gukesh, instead fostering his instinctual approach to the game. Gukesh first approached him in 2017 following a session Prasanna had conducted at Velammal Vidyalaya, his school.

'He was among a group of six or seven students attending my session. Shortly after, he and his father approached me, inquiring if I would coach him. He must have resonated with some topics I discussed during that session,' Prasanna recalled.

From 2017 to 2022, Prasanna actively coached Gukesh, transforming him from a Candidate Master into a formidable Grandmaster. Their collaboration continues, as Vishnu Prasanna serves as a coach at CircleChess, a chess school catering to all, while Gukesh acts as its brand ambassador.

'I trained him intensively from 2017 until the end of 2022. Although my involvement has become less active since 2023, I still offer guidance as a mentor for his upcoming competitions. We connected before the match against Ding Liren to discuss mindset and strategies. I met him post the Isle of Man event to provide insights on his journey to the candidates. Now, I primarily offer him advice, acting as an old friend he can confide in,' said the 35-year-old Prasanna.

Prasanna was among the first to congratulate Gukesh after he became the 18th World Chess Champion. 'I spoke with him, and he was overjoyed. I remarked, 'This is incredible.' His accomplishments are remarkable, and we are all thrilled. Our exchange was pleasant, devoid of technical discussions,' added Prasanna, who began his chess journey at 12 and swiftly transitioned to coaching after attaining Grandmaster status.

Prior to the World Championship match, Prasanna advised Gukesh not to underestimate Ding and designated him as the favorite to win.

'I reminded him not to take Ding Liren lightly and advised against assuming he was the favorite. The favorite would only be determined after the initial game or two, as outcomes are unpredictable until play commences. My main advice centered around this, and he was focused on maintaining his form without fixating on his opponent,' revealed Vishnu Prasanna, who decided to pursue coaching full-time after aiding former National Champion Baskaran Adhiban to a second-place finish at the Tata Steel Chess Championship in Wijk Ann Zee, Netherlands, in 2017. During that tournament, Adhiban secured a draw against Magnus Carlsen and also held Wesley So of the United States to a draw.

In June 2017, Gukesh and his parents approached Prasanna, seeking his coaching services.

What stood out to Prasanna during his coaching journey with Gukesh, who started playing chess at 12 and became a Grandmaster by 23?

'Gukesh exhibited a maturity far beyond his years. Even at just 11, we could engage in discussions about complex performance-related topics, science, and techniques. His eagerness to learn was impressive, coupled with a strong discipline in training, regardless of results. This commitment likely set him apart. I was coaching several talented kids at the time, most of whom are now ranked in the top hundred. However, Gukesh has outpaced them due to his discipline and mindset,' stated Prasanna, who will continue his association with Gukesh as both a mentor and coach at CircleChess, which aims to create a comprehensive environment for beginners to immerse themselves in chess.

Although Prasanna did not foresee Gukesh becoming the World Champion during their coaching partnership, he was confident that Gukesh would emerge as a strong contender.

'I sensed he possessed the potential to be an exceptional player, and he certainly had the qualities necessary for success. However, to become a world champion, many factors must align in your favor. It's not solely about skill or hard work; many skilled individuals never achieve World Champion status. While I wasn't certain he would attain that level, I recognized early on that he would be a top chess player. Winning the Candidates on his first attempt and clinching the World Championship are both monumental challenges, and he has navigated them remarkably well,' Prasanna concluded.

Indeed, Gukesh has demonstrated his capability to dominate the chess world for years to come. Vishnu Prasanna remains confident in this potential and looks forward to continuing his association with the World Champion.