World chess champion Gukesh D recently made a rare online appearance in the Titled Tuesday event, finishing 18th after losing three out of 11 games.
Gukesh’s Unusual Online Foray
Gukesh D, the youngest world champion in chess history, is not typically known for his online play. His recent participation in the Titled Tuesday tournament, a popular online blitz chess event, was a notable exception.
He secured eight wins from 11 games, ultimately landing him in the 18th position. The event was won by chess streaming sensation Hikaru Nakamura, marking his 105th Titled Tuesday victory.
Understanding Titled Tuesday
Titled Tuesday is an online blitz tournament hosted by Chess.com, held twice every Tuesday. It attracts many of the world’s top players, including regulars like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.
The format is Swiss-style, with each player getting three minutes on the clock per game, plus a one-second increment for every move. Winners receive a $1,000 prize.
Tough Losses and Strong Wins
In the Early Titled Tuesday event, Gukesh faced three defeats. His losses came against International Master LR Srihari, tournament winner Hikaru Nakamura, and Parham Maghsoodloo.
Despite these losses, Gukesh managed to defeat strong opponents, including Alexey Sarana and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who was part of his support team during his World Championship run.
Blitz Chess: Not Gukesh’s Preferred Format
It’s widely known that online blitz chess is not Gukesh’s primary strength or focus. His strategy has always leaned towards classical, over-the-board events, which require deep calculation and longer thought processes.
This preference was evident at the recent SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia tournament. Gukesh initially led after the rapid rounds but dropped to third place after the blitz portion, where he struggled to maintain his momentum.
Hikaru Nakamura highlighted this difference while analyzing his game against Gukesh. He noted Gukesh’s tendency to spend significant time on a single move, even in a fast-paced blitz game. “This really highlights the differences between players like Gukesh, who are more about pure calculation, as compared to more intuitive players like myself,” Nakamura explained.
Past Performance in Titled Tuesday
While his recent performance placed him 18th, Gukesh has had stronger outings in the past. A few months ago, he nearly won a Titled Tuesday event, scoring an impressive 9.5 out of 11 games.
On that occasion, he finished second only to Javokhir Sindarov, losing out due to tiebreak regulations.
- Gukesh D, the youngest world chess champion, rarely plays online blitz tournaments.
- He finished 18th in a recent Titled Tuesday event, winning eight out of 11 games.
- Blitz chess is not his strongest format; he prefers classical, calculation-heavy play.
- Hikaru Nakamura, a regular and multiple-time winner, secured first place in the event.
Gukesh continues to prioritize his classical chess career, a strategy that has successfully propelled him to the pinnacle of the chess world at just 18 years old.
