Not Virat Kohli! World Chess Champion D Gukesh Names The Sportsperson He Admires
World chess champion D Gukesh himself credits MS Dhoni as a major inspiration for his approach to handling pressure in chess.
World chess champion D Gukesh has said that former India captain MS Dhoni is one sportsperson he really admires and the latter’s ability to remain calm in any situation is something that Gukesh has been in awe of for a long time now.
One would say that the world champion has imbibed the values well himself, as has been seen from his gameplay over the past year, where he has rarely lost concentration and focus during crucial stages of an encounter.
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Speaking at a special interaction with the Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Gukesh spoke about the impact Dhoni has had on him and his gameplay.
“MS Dhoni is one sportsperson I admire. To this day, he is the one. How he doesn’t react to anything that happens. How can he calmly think in any situation? In the highest-pressure moments, he can think with a clear mind," Gukesh said.
Game recognizes game!🥳Watch Gukesh’s inspiring story and his love for Chennai and MS Dhoni in the first episode of #ChennaiSuperStars 🌟🔗 https://t.co/IvUfveMoF7 #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/LgViUkANeV
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“In that sense, he inspired me. I don’t react to things much. I am good at handling pressure. In that way, he has helped me in my career. Not only as an inspiration but in my game as well," Gukesh said.
The world chess champion reflected on how watching Dhoni handle pressure and marshal his troops on the field has influenced his approach to his game.
“When there is a high-pressure moment, I tend to think about how Dhoni handled so much pressure in a particular situation. Those things have helped me calm down," Gukesh said.
“Dhoni, I think, said in an interview: ‘Keep doing the simple things, keep the mind clear when the situation is very difficult.’ When facing tough situations in chess, I try to create that same calmness within myself," Gukesh added.
A big fan of cricket, the world chess champion picked the 2011 World Cup final-winning six as his favourite moment from Dhoni’s career.
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