Chess has come a long way from its traditional roots, branching out into various exciting formats beyond the classical setup. Formats like blitz and rapid are now gaining serious momentum, while even unconventional styles such as Chess960 have earned a spot on prestigious stages like the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour.
Recently, Viswanathan Anand encouraged players to keep an open mind toward all styles of the game. While speaking at the Chennai Grandmasters event, he pointed out the importance of being mentally prepared for every format, not just the one you’re most comfortable with.
“Players shouldn’t shut out any format mentally,” Anand said, using D Gukesh’s experience as a teaching moment. “Gukesh didn’t have a great classical outing in Romania, but that doesn’t mean he can’t shine elsewhere. When one format doesn’t go your way, you need to be able to step up in another. You might not always succeed, but the effort matters.”
He also reflected on how quickly the chess world is changing. With new competitions and formats constantly emerging, adaptability has become just as important as skill. “What I can do is share how I handled certain situations, but ultimately, it’s up to the next generation to figure out what works for them,” he added.
Gukesh, who has faced criticism in the past—especially from Magnus Carlsen—for being less effective in faster formats, recently silenced doubters by topping the rapid section of the SuperUnited Croatia Rapid and Blitz tournament. He even defeated Carlsen in their rapid clash. Similarly, R Praggnanandhaa also pulled off a win against Carlsen during the Las Vegas Freestyle Chess Grand Slam.
To top it off, chess recently made its first appearance at the Esports World Cup, played in a rapid 10-minute-per-player format without time increments—further proving that the game is evolving to meet modern demands.
