In the high-stakes arena of elite chess, where brilliance often flashes and then fades, some players become enduring fixtures, consistently performing at the pinnacle without quite seizing the ultimate crown. Anish Giri, the Dutch Grandmaster, has long embodied this intriguing paradox. For nearly a decade, he has been a stalwart of the top echelon, his ELO rating once soaring past 2800, a testament to his immense talent. He has qualified for the prestigious Candidates Tournament twice, a feat few accomplish. Yet, the World Championship title, the grandest prize of all, has remained just out of reach, making his career a tapestry woven with “what-ifs.”
Unwavering Resolve Amidst Changing Tides
One might assume such a trajectory could erode even the strongest motivation. Not so for Giri. While some of his legendary peers, like Magnus Carlsen, openly express a waning interest in the relentless grind of classical chess, Giri`s fire burns undimmed. “Of course, Carlsen has won everything,” Giri quipped recently, “I don`t have that problem, so motivation is still very much there.” It`s a sentiment delivered with a dose of self-aware irony, highlighting his unique position: a player with nothing left to prove in terms of skill, but everything to gain in terms of legacy.
The landscape of chess, meanwhile, has undergone a seismic shift. A new wave of prodigies – Gukesh Dommaraju, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Alireza Firouzja, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Vincent Keymer – has stormed the elite, dramatically lowering the average age at the top. This influx of youthful aggression and innovative play has redefined the competitive environment. Yet, Giri views this challenge not as a threat, but as a familiar adversary. He sees parallels to his own early career, when he grappled with giants like Carlsen, Levon Aronian, and Vladimir Kramnik. His conviction remains steadfast: his chances of becoming World Champion are no less now than they were ten years ago.
“My tournaments are fine, but also I play with my other colleagues, with my friends, who are also strong players. And I play training games. And I just see that I`m still very strong,” he asserts, his confidence rooted in tangible performance and peer-level evaluation.
The Pillars of Perseverance: Experience and Defensive Prowess
In a game increasingly dominated by computer-aided preparation and youthful audacity, Giri banks heavily on two formidable assets: his vast experience and his legendary defensive prowess. Chess, he observes, evolves at an astonishing pace. What once took a decade to change now shifts in a single year. “When I tell these young guys what it was like ten years ago, they look at me like I`m some kind of grandpa,” he jokes. But this “grandpa” has seen it all, and that deep well of knowledge offers an unparalleled advantage.
When analyzing positions, Giri notes a key difference: he often spots mistakes in his younger opponents` play, even after their extensive deliberation. This acute understanding, honed over thousands of hours at the board, allows him to navigate complex scenarios with a clarity that belies the apparent speed of modern chess. His recent triumph at the 2025 Sharjah Masters, where he decisively defeated the formidable Abdusattorov, serves as a powerful reminder that the veteran still possesses potent attacking teeth.
Perhaps even more significant is his almost impenetrable defense. Giri has cultivated a reputation as one of the hardest players to beat in classical chess. In 2025, for instance, out of 34 classical games, he lost only one, drawing a remarkable 24. This isn`t merely about avoiding defeat; it`s a strategic weapon. “Because I am such a good defender, I can draw even when I`m playing badly,” Giri explains with a touch of blunt honesty. This ability to salvage draws from seemingly lost positions, as he did against Vidit Gujrathi and Nihal Sarin at the Chennai Grand Masters, keeps him constantly in contention, denying opponents crucial full points and preserving his tournament standing.
A Journey Far From Over
Giri`s journey is far from over. He sees it as a “crime against his career” to retire without giving the World Championship another serious push in the current cycle. He envisions a future where, perhaps after the qualification process for the 2026 Candidates Tournament concludes, he might finally assess his standing. “I would go on the beach and relax. I have some money I can spend on the beach and everything,” he muses, painting a picture of a well-deserved retirement. Yet, the competitive fire refuses to be extinguished.
“As much as I would love to retire, when I see myself playing or training games, I just cannot do it right now. I think I have everything it takes. If I get some wind in the back, if I get lucky here and there, I can achieve the highest goals still.”
This blend of vast experience, tactical acumen, and an almost superhuman ability to hold difficult positions makes Anish Giri a perennial threat. As the chess world looks ahead to the upcoming classical swing at the Grand Swiss and the World Cup, Giri stands as a testament to enduring ambition. With a little serendipity—that elusive “wind in the back”—he firmly believes he is among the select few who possess the tools to potentially dethrone the current World Champion and finally claim the coveted title that has eluded him for so long.