Gukesh's Title Reign Clouded: Caruana Weighs in on World Champion's 2025 Struggles
Image Source: Internet
D Gukesh's reign as world chess champion has been marked by inconsistency in 2025. The 19-year-old Indian grandmaster, who became the youngest-ever world champion in history last year, has yet to win a tournament since beating Ding Liren. At the Global Chess League, Gukesh drew with Hikaru Nakamura, echoing his year's performance. World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana recently expressed his thoughts on Gukesh's status, stating that he's 'not the clear no. 1 in the world right now.' Caruana attributes this to Gukesh's performance being 'much better than Ding Liren's' after his title win. Caruana, who secured his berth for the Candidates next year, believes that the reigning champion will 'come into very good shape next year.' However, for now, Gukesh's performance is 'not his best year after the world championship.' Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa is a favourite at the Candidates, and Caruana thinks he has a 'realistic chance' of success, citing his experience as a factor. As the chess world awaits Gukesh's next move, Caruana's comments serve as a reminder that the world champion's title is not always a guarantee of dominance. The stage is set for an exciting battle at the Candidates, with several top players vying for a spot at the World Chess Championship title match.
