Paddy Upton’s Key Role in Gukesh’s World Chess Championship Victory

Sports psychologist Paddy Upton played a vital part in 18-year-old Dommaraju Gukesh’s journey to becoming the chess world champion. Despite initial hesitations about working with such a young athlete, Upton was impressed by Gukesh’s exceptional self-awareness and maturity.

Upton and Gukesh began collaborating in April, meeting online weekly for a total of 50 hours. Their sessions focused on maintaining composure, handling both victories and defeats, and developing the mindset of a world champion. Upton emphasized the importance of Gukesh arriving at the championship already feeling like a champion.

During the championship, Upton provided support as needed, respecting Gukesh’s ability to handle most situations independently. He intervened only when Gukesh reached out after a crucial loss, offering advice on improving sleep quality by adjusting room temperature.

Impressed by Gukesh’s mental fortitude, Upton made a last-minute decision to fly to Singapore for the final days of the championship. There, he witnessed firsthand the results of their preparation as Gukesh clinched the world title in a stunning victory.

Upton’s experience with Gukesh was unique, as it was his first time working with such a young athlete in a primarily mental sport. Despite these challenges, their partnership proved highly successful, culminating in an emotional embrace after Gukesh’s championship win.