Chess fans have been buzzing recently about a fresh controversy involving former world champion Garry Kasparov and India’s young chess sensation Gukesh D. The 18-year-old Gukesh has been making waves after becoming the youngest-ever World Champion, an incredible achievement that earned him a lot of praise. But Kasparov, known for his bold opinions, has taken a different stand, stirring the pot by saying Gukesh is not yet the strongest player in the world, and that title still belongs to Magnus Carlsen.
What Did Garry Kasparov Say?
Garry Kasparov’s comments came during the Sinquefield Cup 2025, where Gukesh was showing great form but also faced some tough matches. Speaking on the tournament’s live broadcast, Kasparov acknowledged Gukesh’s world championship win but questioned how much weight it carries compared to the legendary titles held by himself or Magnus. He said, “Gukesh won fair and square, but you can hardly call him the strongest player in the world.” He went further to add, “I don’t want to sound offensive, but I think Magnus ended the era of classical world champions.”
This statement is a clear jab at Gukesh’s reign, implying that the current world champion doesn’t measure up to Magnus Carlsen’s level, who is widely seen as one of the greatest chess players in history. Kasparov pointed out that even though Gukesh holds the official World Champion title, Magnus remains the strongest player by all measures. He also criticized some of Gukesh’s recent performances, especially a loss against compatriot Praggnanandhaa at the Sinquefield Cup, calling it “unimpressive.”
Garry Kasparov’s tough take didn’t stop there. He said that Gukesh D still needs to prove his superiority over other top players, including those in his own age group. And he made it clear that the current situation is very different from when players like himself, Magnus, or Karpov were champions. “This is not exactly the title that I had or Karpov had or Fischer had or Magnus had,” Kasparov said, pointing out that the chess world’s landscape has shifted since Magnus Carlsen decided to step away from the World Championship cycle in 2023.
What makes this clash more interesting is that Gukesh D has actually beaten Magnus Carlsen more than once recently, including some high-profile games in rapid and classical formats. Yet Kasparov seems to separate official titles from the quality or strength of the player, putting Magnus above all others at the moment.
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What this means going forward is that chess fans will be watching Gukesh’s journey closely. The young star has talent, resilience, and a fearless attitude, but the question Kasparov raises remains: Can he truly dethrone Magnus Carlsen and establish himself as the strongest player in the world? Only time and a few more epic battles on the chessboard will tell.
For now, one thing is clear: chess is alive and buzzing with fresh rivalries and stories, and the old legends like Kasparov enjoy stirring the drama to keep the excitement going. The world is watching Gukesh D climb, and whether or not he becomes the strongest, his rise is nothing short of thrilling.
Also read: How D Gukesh And Arjun Erigaisi Inspired And Pressured R Praggnanandhaa
