Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion, has stirred controversy by downplaying D Gukesh's recent World Championship title. While acknowledging Gukesh's victory, Kasparov questioned whether the Indian Grandmaster could be considered the strongest player in the world.
Kasparov's comments came during a broadcast of the Sinquefield Cup. He stated, "Gukesh won fair and square, but you can hardly call him the strongest player in the world". He argued that Magnus Carlsen's decision to step away from the classical World Championship altered the landscape of the title. "Magnus ended the era of classical world champions. Gukesh's title is very different," Kasparov said. He further added that Gukesh still needs to prove his superiority, even over players in his own age group.
Kasparov later offered a partial apology but stood by his opinion. "I have to apologise time and again. This is not exactly the title that I had or Karpov had or Fischer had or Magnus had," he stated.
These remarks have drawn strong reactions from the chess community. Susan Polgar, a former women's world champion, defended Gukesh's title. She emphasized Gukesh's performance at the FIDE Candidates Tournament, where he emerged victorious against formidable opponents. "Gukesh is a DESERVING World Classical Champion, period!" Polgar wrote on X. She argued that it was not Gukesh's fault that Carlsen relinquished his title and cautioned against applying different standards to different players. "If we delegitimize Gukesh's title because he didn't beat Carlsen, then we must do the same for champions after Bobby Fischer since he also walked away. We can't have different standards for players we like or dislike,” she added.
D. Gukesh made history in December 2024 by becoming the youngest world champion at 18 years old, surpassing Garry Kasparov's previous record. He achieved this feat by defeating Ding Liren in a 14-game match in Singapore. Overwhelmed by the victory, the teenager from Chennai was seen sobbing at the chessboard.
Gukesh's win was hard-fought, with Game 14 proving decisive. Ding Liren's miscalculated move in the 55th move opened the door for Gukesh's win. Before that move, the game appeared to be heading towards a draw.
Despite Kasparov's reservations, Gukesh has received praise for his mental strength and focus. Kasparov himself had previously lauded Gukesh's "computer-like" resilience. After Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen at the Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb, Kasparov acknowledged the significance of the victory. "Now we can question Magnus' domination," Kasparov said. "This is not just his second loss to Gukesh, it's a convincing loss. It's not a miracle or that Gukesh benefited from terrible mistakes. It was a real fight. And Magnus lost".
The rise of Indian chess prodigies has been a significant development in recent years. Kasparov had earlier referred to it as an "Indian earthquake in chess". Srinath Narayanan, an Indian GM, attributed the growth of chess in India to increased access to technology and improved economic conditions.
Gukesh's journey to the top has not been without its challenges. He faced initial setbacks but demonstrated remarkable resilience, bouncing back to secure crucial wins. Gukesh and Kasparov have both spoken about the challenges that follow winning a title, with Kasparov emphasizing the need for continuous improvement. As Gukesh continues to compete in events like the Sinquefield Cup, he faces intense scrutiny and the ongoing debate about the significance of his title.
