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WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS

World champion D Gukesh on a sail boat during the Norway Chess Games day in Oslo during the recent Norway Chess tournament. (Express Photo by Amit Kamath)

Gukesh interview: ‘Lately my strengths have been controlling me’

June 10, 2026 3:04 pm

Gukesh speaks about managing expectations of the rest of the world; his objectivity in games getting clouded by him wanting the result too much; being serious about the process, but relaxed about the results; losing motivation for some months after becoming world champion and lot more.

Gajewski: ‘Meeting expectations of ex-world champions is not Gukesh’s main goal’

June 03, 2026 6:52 am

The man who has been in the champ's corner since 2023 speaks about the 20-year-old’s form, reveals what’s going on behind the scenes, and responds to criticism from chess greats

Javokhir Sindarov mulls his next move against India's R Praggnanandhaa in a round 2 clash of the Super Chess Classic 2026 tournament in Romania. (Photo: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour)

Praggnanandhaa on Gukesh vs Sindarov world championship: 'It's 50-50 for now'

May 16, 2026 9:22 am

Sindarov has been in rampaging form in classical chess recently, scything through the Candidates tournament in Cyprus last month with an unblemished record to secure his spot in the world championship.

World champion Gukesh Dommaraju does an uncharacteristic fist pump after defeating Javokhir Sindarov in the fifth round of the Super Rapid and Blitz tournament in Warsaw. (Photo: Screengrab via Saint Louis Chess Club)

Gukesh explains rare fist pump celebration after beating Javokhir Sindarov

May 07, 2026 1:23 pm

Since Gukesh became the world champion in December 2024, every move he made in critical positions, every game he played and did not win, every tournament position where he did not finish at the top became a referendum on his credentials.

World Champion D Gukesh in action against Aravindh Chithambaram at the Prague International Chess Festival. (Photo: Petr Vrabec via Prague International Chess Festival.)

Viswanathan Anand to Gukesh: Ignore the criticism, but some of it is legitimate

April 22, 2026 8:21 pm

With Gukesh’s form dipping in recent years, some of the comments from former world champions like Magnus Carlsen and Garry Kasparov appear to question his credentials as a world champion.

Vaishali Rameshbabu meets her mother Nagalakshmi after winning the Women's Candidates tournament. (Photo: Michal Walusza/FIDE)

The miracle of Cyprus: R Vaishali wins Women’s Candidates after dramatic finale

April 16, 2026 8:48 am

The result means that for only the second time in chess history, an Indian woman will fight it out for the Women’s World Championship title.

Javokhir Sindarov accepts Anish Giri's resignation at the Candidates. (Photo: Niki Riga / FIDE)

Anish Giri says currently Javokhir Sindarov looks 'faster and better prepped than Gukesh'

April 15, 2026 5:11 pm

Giri explained that since both Sindarov and Gukesh are young (both players will be 20 during the World Championship), there is a tendency to be unstable with results, so form will play a big role in deciding who wins the world championship.

File image of Magnus Carlsen. (Photo: Magnus Carlsen via X)

When a teenaged Magnus Carlsen skipped the Candidates and wrote an open letter to FIDE chief with suggestions for changes

March 20, 2026 5:05 pm

Carlsen eventually played in the 2013 London Candidates tournament, which he won on the final day in a thrilling race to the finish line.

Ding Liren blunder vs D Gukesh Chess world championship

Ding Liren after dropping out of FIDE ratings list: ‘Quite enjoy my current situation, having inactive rating’

March 18, 2026 6:40 pm

Asked about his motivations these days, Ding replied: “I keep up playing the occasional game online: it doesn't require arduous pre-game preparation, just undivided concentration in the moment. The process itself is rewarding.”