Gukesh Dommaraju, the chess prodigy from Chennai, has taken the chess world by storm. At just 17, he became one of the youngest grandmasters and made history with not just his incredible skills but also for his calm attitude during tense games. But this cool-headed approach wasn’t always part of his game. Gukesh once described himself as an ‘impulsive and short-tempered kid’ who struggled to control his emotions during earlier matches. So how did he overcome his impulsive behaviour?
Turning point in Gukesh’s life
Gukesh says his turning point came when he noticed that his anger and frustration after losing games were affecting his performance. “Whenever I lost a game, the next few matches were also affected because I couldn’t manage my emotions well,” he shared at an event in Poland’s Katowice, after playing in an exhibition blitz event against Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Realising that this could hold him back, Gukesh began exploring ways to stay calm and focused.
How did meditation and yoga help him overcome impulsive behaviour?
The young champion found his solution in meditation and simple yoga practices. “Meditation helped me a lot in managing my feelings and staying calm during tough moments,” Gukesh said in the same event. He explained that while he isn’t a yoga expert, practising basic poses and focusing on breathing made a big difference in his mental state. Meditation didn’t just help his chess, it improved his overall life.
Gukesh’s calm attitude is one of his biggest strengths. Even in important matches, like his recent games against world number two Ding Liren, he stayed calm and rarely showed his emotions.
How meditation and yoga help keep mental health in check?
Meditation and yoga, which have been practised in India since ages are one of the most effective ways to stay calm and focused. Athletes often swear by these two practices to keep their emotions in control as they need to handle a lot of mental pressure. Meditation helps by training the mind to remain present and reduces stress by calming the nervous system. It helps lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can improve emotional control and reduce anxiety. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that regular meditation increases activity in brain areas linked to attention and emotional regulation, helping individuals respond calmly to challenging situations.
Meanwhile, deep breathing exercises in yoga help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation and reduces heart rate. Research in Psychosomatic Medicine shows that yoga practice lowers symptoms of anxiety and depression while improving mood and overall well-being.
For Gukesh Dommaraju, this mental training has helped him maintain composure during high-pressure chess matches, turning frustration into focus.
