Garry Kasparov Doesn’t Consider Gukesh vs Ding Liren Match as World Championship: Magnus Carlsen’s Absence Changes Dynamics

Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov has stirred up controversy by stating that the upcoming World Championship match between India’s D Gukesh and China’s Ding Liren cannot be considered a true contest for the title of the best player in the world in the absence of five-time champion Magnus Carlsen.

Kasparov, known for his outspoken opinions, expressed his views on a YouTube show for the St Louis Chess Club, where he declared, “My hottest take is that I don’t treat this as a World Championship match. For me, a World Championship match was always a match for the title of the best player in the world.”

The former world champion went on to explain his reasoning, stating that the history of World Championship matches began with Steinitz and ended with Carlsen. He emphasized that the title of World Champion should be earned by beating the best players in the world at that time.

Despite his controversial stance, Kasparov did acknowledge that Gukesh is the clear favorite going into the match against Ding Liren. He expressed his belief that Ding Liren has not been performing at his best recently, making Gukesh the likely winner.

Kasparov also supported Carlsen’s decision to forfeit his title, citing the need for a more modern and efficient system of qualification in the fast-paced world of chess. He commended Carlsen for his decision and noted that the reigning champion seems to be enjoying his chess more now.

The upcoming World Championship match between Gukesh and Ding Liren is set to be an important event in the world of chess, but Kasparov’s comments have added an extra layer of intrigue and debate to the proceedings. It remains to be seen how the players will respond to the legendary chess player’s controversial remarks.