D Gukesh apologises to fans; Indian chess stars slip in rankings — what’s going wrong?

NEW DELHI: When Grandmaster (GM) Gukesh Dommaraju paused in the middle of the Prague Masters to apologise to fans, the moment felt unusually raw and emotional.

“I really appreciate all the fans coming here every day. But I want to apologise to them. This tournament has been tough for me, and on some days I just want to be left alone,” the youngest-ever world chess champion said. “I generally make sure to give autographs and photographs after the game, but I haven’t been in a great mood here.”

The admission carried weight, especially for a player who has only been navigating the highs and lows of being a world champion for less than 24 months.

Champions rarely reveal vulnerability so openly, almost never during tournaments.

Yet this apology struck a chord across the chess world as it seemed to hint at something deeper.

Indian chess, which has enjoyed a golden phase in recent times, is currently undergoing an alarming dip at the top of the pyramid.

For example, the first FIDE rating list of 2026 in January featured three Indian GMs, Arjun Erigaisi, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Gukesh, in the top 10.

Two months later, in March, the scenario changed drastically.

Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa have slipped out of the top 10, while Gukesh, occupying the 10th spot in the latest rating list, risks losing more points after a difficult run (only one win in 10 rounds) in Prague.

At a time when the chess calendar is heading toward a crucial phase, with the Candidates Tournament followed by the World Chess Championship, the dip has prompted questions.

Is this just a temporary fluctuation? Or are there deeper issues affecting India’s brightest talents?

Does the current dip in form for Indian top grandmasters sound alarm bells?

“Of course, it’s a matter of concern,” veteran Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay told TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive interaction.

“When players who were approaching or crossing 2800 suddenly drop by 40 or 50 points, it certainly deserves serious attention.”

The reasons, according to Thipsay, are complex but interconnected.

Ironically, one of the biggest factors behind the slump could be the sheer volume of chess the young stars are playing.

“The first reason, in my opinion, is that they are simply playing too much,” Thipsay explained. “Because they have become very strong, they receive a lot of invitations. Naturally, they end up playing far more tournaments than most players usually do.”

He continued, “Top players often receive appearance fees that can be higher than the prize money itself. Earlier, they played mainly for prizes. Now, the starting money becomes a major factor. Financially, it can be difficult to refuse invitations.”

Relationships with organisers also play a role. “Many organisers supported these players when they started out in their careers. Naturally, players feel obliged to accept those invitations,” he added.

What follows next is a relentless tournament schedule. From classical tournaments to online events such as Titled Tuesdays and Freestyle Friday, the calendar rarely allows breathing space.

Grandmaster Shyam Sundar M, whose relentless contribution through coaching has gifted India multiple GMs in recent times, echoes the same concern about the modern schedule.

“The top 10 fluctuates frequently, not just for Indians,” Shyam Sundar added. “Players today compete in classical tournaments, rapid, blitz, Chess960 team events and many other competitions. Without enough breaks, it’s natural that results will fluctuate.”

The consequence, he explains, is that players often arrive at the most important tournament not fully refreshed.

Another factor, Thipsay believes, lies in the unique status Indian chess players enjoy at home.

“The social status of Indian players today is much higher than what players like Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja or Fabiano Caruana experience in their countries,” he said.

In India, chess stars have become celebrities. And recently, this idea was put into perspective by FIDE itself when they put out a social media post comparing Instagram follower counts of the Candidates. And unsurprisingly, two of the top three were Indians.

“They receive huge media attention, encouragement, and financial offers. Endorsements and brand collaborations bring good money, but they also take a lot of your time and mental energy,” Thipsay added.

These commitments may appear minor compared to the rigours of professional chess; but over time, they can shift focus. “Financial rewards outside chess can become a distraction and may hamper concentration,” Thipsay told this website.

Another factor shaping modern chess is the structure of tournaments themselves. Today’s leading players often compete repeatedly against the same small group of elite opponents in closed events.

“Since the days of Garry Kasparov, the top players have mostly played among themselves in elite events,” Thipsay stated. “Even Anatoly Karpov played many open tournaments against ordinary players. That tradition has largely disappeared.”

The result is a tight competitive ecosystem.

“When you play the same opponents repeatedly, you become very familiar with their styles. Preparation becomes about guessing what your opponent will play rather than discovering new ideas.”

In contrast, open tournaments force players to think independently, which the top stars are lacking these days.

“When these players rose rapidly in 2022 and 2023, they were playing many Swiss tournaments. You faced unknown opponents, unpredictable positions, and that sharpened their creativity. New strategic ideas won’t come to you if you are playing the same players, again and again. So that’s very serious.”

According to Thipsay, the overwhelming role of computer preparation has subtly changed how players think.

“Today, many players buy enormous amounts of prepared material from analysts or trainers. Often, these analysts are not strong players themselves; they simply run engines and provide computer suggestions,” he revealed.

“A human process is different. You understand the position, identify strategic ideas, analyse tactics, and then reach a logical decision. With engine preparation, you are given the move, but you may not understand why it works.”

He cites a famous remark by José Raúl Capablanca, adding, “Almost 100 years ago, Capablanca once said: ‘The best way to win is the easiest way.’ But the easiest path is different for every player.”

When players follow computer lines that do not suit their style, problems emerge. “You might know that the engine says a move is best, but you have not truly grasped the idea behind it,” the veteran GM added.

Thipsay feels the Indian trio’s distinctive styles have slightly faded in recent months.

“Praggnanandhaa was once one of the most dangerous attacking players, but he isn’t getting many attacking positions now. Gukesh was phenomenal defensively, as his accuracy in events like the Olympiad was extraordinary.”

He believes opponents are now adapting.

“Rivals are preparing specific strategies to complicate games. Meanwhile, Arjun and Gukesh have lost some accuracy, and Praggnanandhaa some initiative.”

However, all is not lost as Thipsay remains optimistic.

“If these players return to playing their natural games and perhaps include more open tournaments, the situation can change quickly,” he added.

Shyam Sundar, on the other hand, cautions against reading too much into short-term dips.

“Sometimes players experiment with their games as well,” he added.

“For example, Gukesh himself has spoken about trying new things after becoming world champion. When players experiment, results can suffer temporarily even though the quality of chess remains strong.

“When players are competing across formats and experimenting with ideas, you will naturally see ups and downs in results. But that doesn’t mean the players have suddenly become weaker.”

Coach Shyam Sundar insists Indian players still command immense respect globally. In fact, according to him, the temporary dip might even serve as motivation.

“Wherever you go, when someone faces an Indian player, they know they have to be fully prepared. That respect hasn’t changed,” added the 33-year-old.

Beyond individual performance, the structure of Indian chess itself raises some alarm bells.

“Indian chess has always been very individualistic. None of these champions has been created by a system,” Thipsay, who became a GM in 1997, admitted.

Unlike the Soviet model that produced legends such as Mikhail Tal and Kasparov, India’s success stories often emerge from personal and family effort.

“Parents sacrifice careers, invest time and resources, and players build themselves through sheer dedication,” 66-year-old Thipsay added. “Just because three players reach the top 10 today does not mean we will automatically produce three more in ten years.”

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That model makes sustained dominance difficult, as Thipsay said, “Out of millions who play online chess, only about 36,000 players in India are registered for AICF over-the-board tournaments.”

For now, India’s chess revolution continues to be powered by extraordinary individuals. Whether it can evolve into a system capable of producing champions generation after generation remains the bigger game still to be won.