For about half a minute, Grzegorz Gajewski searches for the right words. The question is a fairly simple one: what will be D Gukesh’s priority in terms of chess in 2026. As Gukesh’s full-time coach since 2023, Gajewski has watched as the teenager from Chennai vroomed his way from being a prodigy to becoming the youngest world champion in chess history. Of course, 2026 is the year that Gukesh enters the trenches to defend his crown. But Gajewski is trying to explain what the Indian will prioritise in terms of chess, and not just competitions. Eventually, he finds the two words he’s looking for: patience and confidence. It’s a curious mix of words. “Both of them combined, I’m sure are going to give him great results,” Gajewski tells The Indian Express. “When you’re confident, you’re patient as well, right? Because you know the results are going to come.” After an all-conquering 2024, Gukesh and Gajewski experienced a choppy 2025. The results just did not come, even though tournaments were plentiful with organisers of every kind …