India, June 9 -- Gukesh perhaps has a fair bit weighing on his mind. Beneath the dark pinstripe suit sits a 20-year-old grappling with expectations and pressures that few of his peers can imagine. He has just finished at the bottom of the Norway Chess standings and is navigating a trough at a time when the stakes could hardly be higher. In six months, he will have to show up to defend his World Championship title.

In a strikingly vulnerable chat, the world champion opened up about his struggle with motivation last year, finding it a challenge to enjoy chess and why most chess players are "lucky" never to become world champions.

Excerpts:

What's been the hardest part of being a world champion?

Managing expectations. As much as you try ...