D Gukesh Faces Setbacks as Pressure Mounts After World Championship Title

D Gukesh Faces Setback at Prague International Chess Festival

Prague, Czech Republic — Since claiming the title of world champion in December 2024, Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh has found himself under immense pressure, and recent performances suggest the weight of expectation may be taking its toll. Following a disappointing defeat to fellow countryman Aravindh Chithambaram, Gukesh has plummeted to world No. 20 in the live chess rankings.

In a tense sixth-round match at the Prague International Chess Festival, Gukesh resigned after a critical blunder, marking his third loss in six games. With three draws to his name, the 19-year-old’s struggles have cost him 19 rating points and left him at the bottom of the tournament standings.

The game against Chithambaram was particularly dramatic. Gukesh, who had a rook and a pawn advantage, found himself in a precarious position as time dwindled. With only seconds left on the clock, he made a fateful move on the 40th turn, allowing Aravindh’s knights to dominate the board.

“I think f4 was the crucial mistake,” Aravindh noted after the match. “It allowed my knight to jump to e3 and e2, making things tricky for him. If he had played rook d2 instead, the game might have ended in a draw.”

Time management proved pivotal in this encounter. Gukesh’s dwindling seconds contributed to his inability to find the saving move, rook to d3, which could have salvaged the game.

“It was a hard game for both of us,” Aravindh reflected. “We were both having a tough tournament, but I’m happy to have broken my losing streak.”

As Gukesh grapples with the pressures of being a reigning champion, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how he rebounds from this challenging phase. With the chess world eager to see if he can reclaim his form, the coming rounds at the Prague International Chess Festival will be crucial for the young champion.