NEW DELHI
World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana recently shared his thoughts on reigning world champion D Gukesh, calling 2025 a “tough year” for the 19-year-old Indian chess prodigy. Caruana said Gukesh is “not the clear No. 1 in the world right now,” but stressed that such fluctuations are normal for a champion.
Gukesh stunned the chess world last December by defeating Ding Liren, becoming the youngest-ever world champion. Since then, expectations have soared, and opponents have been extra motivated to beat him.
This year, Gukesh has faced inconsistency. While representing PBG Alaskan Knights at the Global Chess League, he drew against Hikaru Nakamura on the first day, reflecting a year with few tournament wins. He came close at the Tata Masters in Wijk aan Zee but lost the final tie-breaker to fellow Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa.
Caruana highlighted that, despite the challenges, Gukesh is still performing at a top level, unlike Ding Liren during his weaker period. “Maybe next year will be better. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes into very good shape next year,” Caruana said.
Looking ahead, Caruana has secured his spot for the Candidates, where he could face Gukesh again. Praggnanandhaa is also considered a strong contender, with Caruana noting he has a “realistic chance” at the title.
