1 october 2024 : Bengaluru: Wei Yi needed “two to three days” to recover from what he described as one of the toughest games he’s ever played, where he suffered a stunning defeat to India’s Gukesh. Originally, Wei was set to face Gukesh in a highly anticipated World Championship prelude, but he had to step in for reigning world champion Ding Liren, who chose to sit out due to lingering effects from a prior loss against Le Quang Liem.
“Ding felt terrible after his loss and we hoped he would feel better on the rest day, but he still wasn’t well,” Wei, China’s highest-ranked player, explained in an interview. Ding has been grappling with mental health issues and was deeply touched by a poem Wei had written about their friendship before his World Championship match against Nepomniachtchi.
Wei expressed optimism about Ding’s current state, noting, “I’m happy because I think Ding is in much better shape now. I saw that he was trying to win games at the Olympiad, and I hope he can recover soon.”
Looking ahead, Wei acknowledged that Gukesh appears to have better chances in the upcoming World Championship match, although he reminded that anything can happen in chess.
Wei Yi became a grandmaster at 14 and was the youngest player to surpass the 2600 Elo rating. He later crossed the 2700 barrier at 15 but opted to attend university for a couple of years, returning to a significantly transformed chess landscape, particularly influenced by the rise of strong Indian players. Currently, India boasts two players in the top five—Gukesh (ranked No. 5) and Arjun Erigaisi (ranked No. 3)—while Wei Yi is the only Chinese player in the top 20, ranked eighth. Ding Liren has recently dropped out of this elite circle.
“Players like Gukesh, Pragg, and Arjun have developed rapidly, and this year, they could become the top chess players in the world. Other countries can learn from India,” he said. “In China, we haven’t seen as many strong young players. We still need a few years to catch up.”
At 25, Wei Yi feels the pressure of competing against this new generation. Reflecting on his match against Gukesh, he noted, “It seemed like I could easily draw, but Gukesh took his time and made challenging moves. I made mistakes under time pressure, and losing that endgame was upsetting. These young players are very strong, and it’s challenging to face them. I feel quite nervous now.”
When asked about his ambitions for the Candidates Tournament, he said, “I hope to have a chance to fight for it, but the road ahead is long.”
Wei Yi’s choice to pursue university education contrasts with the Indian prodigies, who have focused solely on chess. He believes that dedicating oneself entirely to chess is crucial for success, stating, “In my opinion, if you want to be the best at chess, you have to solely focus on it. It’s nearly impossible to excel at two things simultaneously. You need to decide which path to prioritize and work hard at it.”
