D Gukesh's withdrawal from Las Vegas expected, says Freestyle Chess CEO: ‘Performances have not been that good'

Gukesh Dommaraju will be taking a break after participating in SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz, the event that takes place in Zagreb from 2 to 6 July and is part of the Grand Chess Tour. Which means that the 19-year-old not be taking part in the third leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas, USA from 16 to 20 July.

And according to Freestyle Chess co-founder and CEO Jan Henric Buettner, Gukesh's withdrawal from the American leg of the tour was along expected lines, with the teenager – an automatic entry in all Grand Slam events as the world champion – having struggled in Weissenhaus and Paris.

“He said he’s exhausted and needs rest,” Buettner told The Times of India. “His performances have not been that good at any Grand Slam. We were always expecting that he would decline to participate in the next event.”

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“Anyway, he had an invitation (for the Las Vegas leg). So after his not-so-good performance in Paris, he was still up for the task. He said, ‘We’re gonna come. I will come to Las Vegas’,” added the German entrepreneur, who will be stepping down from the post of Freestyle Chess CEO on 1 July.

‘Norway Chess exhausted him so much’

Gukesh had a forgettable run in the first two events of the inaugural Grand Slam Tour, failing to collect a single win in the opening event in Weissenhaus. He did collect a victory in the second event in Paris, but ended up finishing at the bottom of the standings along with compatriot Vidit Gujrathi.

The Chennai lad, who had defeated Ding Liren to become the youngest Classical world champion in Singapore in December, had even opened up on his struggles with the unpredictable Freestyle format after his disappointing run across the first two events.

Buettner added that Gukesh will have been further exhausted after Norway Chess, where he finished third after a stunning 62-move victory over Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round – the first time he defeated the world No 1 in his career.

“But then, there was Norway Chess. This exhausted him so much. Even I would be exhausted. He was so exhausted that I got a message. He said he’s exhausted and would like to rest. He can’t come to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he needs rest. So, you know, that’s understandable,” the 60-year-old added.

Buettner added that Indian Grandmaster Gujrathi, who was among the four Indians playing in the Paris leg alongside Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, has been included as the world champion’s replacement for Las Vegas.