However there is one commonality between the two. Both Gukesh and Barua have followed the footsteps of Viswanathan Anand. Barua is the second Indian after Anand to become a Grandmaster. Gukesh is the second Indian after Anand to claim the title of World Champion. Barua was awarded his Grandmaster title in 1991. Gukesh has claimed the thrown of World Champion in 2024.
So does the senior chess player sees any similarity between his journey and that of the path the teenager has taken?
Not really!
“he (Gukesh) is far, far ahead and this is something different” Barua said in an exclusive chat with CNBCTV-18 on the day when Gukesh returned home after his world-conquering feat.
Last week, 18-year-old Gukesh, defeated China’s Ding Liren to become the youngest ever owner of the world title.
So what does a player goes through while competing a high-stake battle like World Championship?
“There is a lot of mental and emotional pressure” Gukesh said in a press conference organised at his childhood school Velammal Vidyalaya.
Also Read: The Blunder which cost Ding Liren the World Chess Championship
Barua concurs with Gukesh.
” there is too much pressure, this was his first appearance in the match, and as as the youngest challenger” Barua said.
Gukesh earned the right to take on Liren for World Title when he won the prestigious Candidates tournament earlier this year.
Ever-since the two participants for the World Championship match were finalised the odds were in Gukesh’s favour. The Indian enjoyed a good few months before the showpiece event while the Chinese was enduring a rough patch.
“Ding was not at all in form for the last few months, whereas Gukesh was in very, very good form for the last six to eight months. He won the candidates. He led the Indian team in the Olympiad which we won. We won both medals in the men’s and women’s category. He also got the individual gold medal ” Barua added.
In September India won the gold medals in the Open (men) and Women’s categories at the Chess Olympiad. Gukesh was part of the men’s squad. The two gold medals was a historic first for India.
Determination, perseverance and hard work are important components of becoming a world champion, another factor that has to be taken into account these days in the money. Barua doesn’t deny that sponsorship has become vital for a modern day chess player.
“when you are competing in the national or even in competing in the international level, definitely, you need to have lots of sponsorship. Otherwise not possible and that too in a voltage match, like in the World Championship. In our generation there was no concept of Seconds. Players, they hire Seconds. Seconds means that the coaches who are working behind. So there are lots of costs involved and you need to have a good sponsor. Otherwise it’s not possible. It is a huge, huge money so there are lots of courses involved, and you need to have a good sponsor. Otherwise it’s not possible. It is a huge, huge money” Barua adds.
According to Barua ‘s rough estimates Gukesh would have spent in range of ₹50 lakh to ₹60 lakh or may be even a crore to form his team and the get the best possible training. Soon after winning the championship Gukesh revealed his team and his team comprised of Anand, Grzegorz Gajewski, Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Pentala Harikrishna, Vincent Keymer, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Jan Klimkowski and Paddy Upton. Those are some of the best possible names Gukesh could have hired!
But all the investment is worth it as the 18-year-old Gukesh will now inspire the next set of chess players. It is because of champions like Gukesh that India is now being considered as the powerhouse of chess.
“India is going to rule, Gukesh is a new idol, new icon for the young generation. And definitely this will take the chess to the next level, and all the youngsters will now be motivated and more inspired by this result.” Barua concluded.
