About six months back, when Paddy Upton was approached to coach an Indian athlete for his first appearance at a World Championship, the South African mind guru was not sure what to make of the offer. In the past, Upton helped the Indian cricket team claim the 2011 World Cup and the Indian men’s hockey team seal a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
Reflecting on the journey, Upton shared to Indian Express, “I wasn’t sure about working with him initially because I tend to not work with people who are too young. They haven’t really matured or evolved. But Gukesh has just been an absolute blessing and a gift to work with. He is super-intelligent. We’re able to have amazingly detailed and deeply complex conversations.”

Working with Gukesh an absolute blessing’: Paddy Upton, on mentoring the rising chess player.