We intend to do what Magnus did vs Anand: Gukesh's coach

Carlsen suffered in some games but won them, says Gajewski who was also Anand's second in 2014 WC

- Susan Ninan

Grzegorz Gajewski talks of a "lesson" he learnt a decade ago. Gajewski, who was previously second to five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand and is now D Gukesh's trainer and coach, hasn't forgotten a searing loss at the Tromso Olympiad in 2014. The guy who beat him was Ding Liren - who Gukesh will go up against at the World Championship match, beginning on Monday.

Defending world champion Ding has spoken of grappling with his form and mental health, and is happy to be seen as the underdog against the 18-year-old Indian. "That loss was a nice lesson for me, fortunately a short one," Gajewski tells HT in an interview. "So, I know how well Ding can play and he's definitely not someone you should underestimate... Even during his World Championship match against (Ian) Nepomniachtchi he was supposedly out of shape, but still won. So, we want to be at our best. All this talk of favourites and predictions is just noise to us."