Gukesh explains why he refuses to give up despite prolonged poor form since world title win: 'I'm far from my best'

World chess champion D Gukesh has admitted that he is frustrated at playing "badly" since making history, but his love for the sport remains stronger than ever, and he is not ready to call it quits.

Gukesh became the youngest world chess champion at 18 in December 2024. He defeated Ding Liren in a thrilling World Chess Championship match in Singapore to become only the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to become a world champion. But his journey since then has been very tough.

Now 20, Gukesh is yet to win a single major title since the high of Singapore. He recently finished at the Norway Chess 2026 as the worst performer, finishing last in the six-player tournament.

While the Chennai Grandmaster only managed to secure eight points from five matches, his compatriot R Praggnanandhaa won a record title with 18 points.

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Gukesh explains why he refuses to give up

The poor form has also forced Gukesh to cut down his 2026 calendar, with the announcement coming in April this year.

Nonetheless, with just a few months to go for his defence of the world title against Javokhir Sindarov, Gukesh remains upbeat and motivated. In a recent interview, the Indian chess star said that while he hasn't been at his best, his love for chess remains intact. And that he remains determined to keep working and find his best level again.

"I'm very happy with where I am compared to a couple of months ago, but I'm still very far from my best form," Gukesh was quoted as saying by @EndgameaiChess account on X.

"Right now, I'm playing badly, and it's very frustrating. But chess is still what I want to devote my time to. If you've spent so many years doing something and you're doing it badly, if there's no love for the game, then there's no point in continuing.

"The fact that I'm trying this hard means there's something deeper behind it all. Reconnecting with that feeling is exactly why I want to keep moving forward."

It's been a challenging period, no doubt, but Gukesh's biggest strengths have always been his resilience and ability to bounce back on the chessboard. One can be confident that the Indian Grandmaster will show the same fighting spirit in his career, with many years still ahead of him.