Former Second of Magnus Carlsen Questions D Gukesh’s World Chess Championship Title

Former second of Magnus Carlsen, Jon Ludvig Hammer, has issued a stern warning to India’s top chess player, D Gukesh. Hammer, who was part of Carlsen’s team when he became world champion in 2013, expressed doubts about Gukesh’s ability to hold onto his title.

Despite Gukesh’s historic victory in Singapore last year, some grandmasters, including Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik, have been critical of his achievement. Hammer has now joined the chorus of skeptics, questioning whether Gukesh can maintain his status as world champion.

In a recent interview, Hammer emphasized the importance of having a dominant figure in the chess world, citing examples like Karpov, Kasparov, and Carlsen. He expressed concern that if Gukesh and his challengers are evenly matched, the title could change hands frequently, undermining its legitimacy.

Gukesh’s recent performances in Paris and Weissenhaus have been less than stellar, raising further doubts about his ability to defend his title. Meanwhile, Carlsen continues to dominate the chess scene, winning the Paris event and taking the Tour lead with an impressive performance.

The next Freestyle Chess Grand Slam event is set to take place in Las Vegas in July, where Gukesh will have another chance to prove his critics wrong. As the chess world eagerly awaits the outcome of this upcoming tournament, the pressure is on for Gukesh to silence his doubters and solidify his place as a true chess champion.