If you thought D Gukesh’s World Championship win would crown him the undisputed king of chess, think again. Fabiano Caruana, world number 3 and one of the game’s elite players, dropped a reality check. The American grandmaster made it clear: Gukesh is the reigning world champion, but he’s far from the top dog in live ratings right now.
Fabiano Caruana Gives A Reality Check
Fabiano Caruana didn’t mince words. “Gukesh is still playing at the top level. Just that you cannot say that he’s the clear No 1 in the world right now. But that’s also normal: that the world champion is not necessarily the clear No 1 in the world. With Ding, it was different. He was just in very bad shape,” he said, pointing out the 19-year-old Indian prodigy hasn’t claimed a single major tournament since dethroning Ding Liren earlier this year.
It’s been a tough stretch post-title for Gukesh, no big wins, no fireworks. But here’s where Caruana shows balance: he refuses to draw direct comparisons with Ding. “Gukesh is performing much better than Ding, he noted, calling it unfair to stack the young champ against a player who struggled through health issues and inconsistency.
The context hits hard. Gukesh’s championship triumph was historic, India’s second-ever world champion after Viswanathan Anand. Fans dreamed of dominance. Yet, the post-coronation blues have set in. Caruana sees potential, though. “But it’s true he (Gukesh) has not had a very good year. Maybe next year will be better. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes into very good shape next year. But certainly after the world championship, it’s not been his best year,” he added.
Fabiano Caruana’s take sparks debate. Is Gukesh’s downfall a blip or a sign of pressure? The World Championship cycle demands consistency beyond one epic match. Gukesh has shown flashes of brilliance, but ratings don’t lie; top spots go to those winning now. As Caruana wraps up in India for the Global Chess League, his words linger: respect the title, but earn the top rank daily.
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