 "D Gukesh hires mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton ahead of World Chess Championship clash with Ding Liren: Report")
Indian chess Grandmaster D Gukesh is working with South African mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton to prepare for the challenges of the World Chess Championship, it was reported on Tuesday. Gukesh, who qualified for the World Chess Championship 2024 by winning the FIDE Candidates earlier this year, will take on Chinese grandmaster reigning world champion Ding Liren in the world title match.
Paddy Upton’s past achievements
The World Chess Championship between Gukesh and Ding Liren will be played from 25 November to 13 December and will comprise 14 classical games. The world title match will take place at the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. Gukesh at 18 is the youngest contender for the world chess title.
Read | D Gukesh is the favourite for World Chess Championship against Ding Liren: Boris Gelfand
Considering world No.5 Gukesh’s lack of experience, the Indian chess sensation has hired Paddy Upton to help sharpen his mental ability for the match, reported the Indian Express. Paddy Upton has a highly successful background in working with Indian athletes. He was part of the Indian cricket team that won the 2011 ODI World Cup under the captaincy of MS Dhoni and South African also inspired the Indian men’s hockey team to win a second consecutive bronze at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
Paddy Upton’s role
Paddy Upton aims to help Gukesh settle into a mental zone where he is neither too relaxed nor too eager.
“Everything can be right in the lead-up to the big moments of performance, but if the arrow is not sharp, it won’t penetrate the bullseye. Similarly, you might have a golfer whose game is perfect, but things go wrong if they’ve got a limp wrist at the moment of impact. I think there is now more recognition in the world of sport of how mental gains can reduce these moments,” Upton was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.
Read | Gukesh on World Championship against Ding: ‘He’ll come with right spirit and try his best’
Gukesh has been tipped as the favourite for the World Chess Championship by several Grandmasters due to his blistering current form and Liren’s struggle.
Viswanathan Anand is the only Indian ever to win the World Chess Championship, having won the title five times (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012).
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