D Gukesh, India’s teenage chess sensation and reigning world champion, is facing one of the most challenging moments of his career. Known for his calm, composed approach at the board, Gukesh has suffered a hat-trick of losses at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, leaving fans and experts equally stunned. For a player who has often been praised for his ability to handle pressure, this slump is both unexpected and concerning.
The 19-year-old Grandmaster entered the tournament as one of the heavy favorites, but after seven rounds, he finds himself struggling to stay in contention for a top-two finish — a must for qualifying to the Candidates Tournament 2026, the event that decides who will challenge the world champion in the next title match.
Three Losses in a Row
The latest defeat came against 16-year-old Turkish Grandmaster Ediz Gurel in Round 7. Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, reached a complicated endgame but made a rare blunder by losing a bishop — effectively handing the game to his young opponent.
This was Gukesh’s third consecutive loss, following defeats to Abhimanyu Mishra of the USA and Nikolas Theodorou of Greece. For a player who rarely goes on losing streaks, this has set off alarm bells within the Indian chess community.
As of Round 7, Gukesh has just three points from seven games, meaning he will now need to win nearly all his remaining matches to keep his hopes alive. This is not impossible, but it is a steep challenge in a field packed with some of the world’s best players.
Maurice Ashley and the Chess World React
The losing streak has caught the attention of former Grandmaster and renowned commentator Maurice Ashley, who posted on social media:
“What is going on with Gukesh? This is not him.”
Ashley’s words echoed the thoughts of many fans, who are used to seeing Gukesh fight until the very end, often outplaying opponents in long, grinding games. His calmness under pressure has been one of his biggest strengths, but his body language in recent rounds has told a different story.
After the loss to Theodorou earlier in the tournament, Gukesh was seen leaving the playing hall visibly upset. Against Gurel, the moment he realized he had lost control, he appeared devastated — a rare display of emotion for the usually composed teenager.
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The Pressure of Expectations
Gukesh has been in the spotlight ever since he became the youngest player in history to win the World Chess Championship at just 18 years of age, breaking Magnus Carlsen’s long reign. Expectations on him have skyrocketed, with every tournament being seen as a test of whether he can dominate like past greats.
High expectations can weigh heavily on even the best players, and this may be a contributing factor to his current struggles. The Grand Swiss is one of the most competitive open tournaments in the world, with more than 100 top GMs fighting for just two spots in the Candidates. Every game is a high-pressure battle, and even a small lapse in form can have a cascading effect.
Other Players Making Their Move
While Gukesh has stumbled, other Indian players are shining. R Praggnanandhaa, another star from India’s golden generation of chess, defeated Israeli GM Maxim Rodshtein to move to 4.5 points. Erigaisi Arjun and Pranav Venkatesh are also on 4.5 points, keeping India’s chances alive for a top-two finish.
The overall tournament standings have also tightened. Seven players, including Vidit Gujrathi of India, Alireza Firouzja (Iran/France), Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan), Hans Niemann, and Abhimanyu Mishra (USA), are tied for second place with five points each. This means the last few rounds are likely to be incredibly tense and decisive.
Women’s Section: Indian Stars Shine
In more positive news for Indian chess, the women’s section has been dominated by Indian players. Vaishali Rameshbabu, the defending champion and sister of Praggnanandhaa, has regained sole lead after defeating Chinese IM Guo Qi. She now stands at the top of the table with five wins.
Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh also picked up a win, boosting India’s chances of qualifying two players to the Women’s Candidates Tournament. This offers a silver lining for Indian fans even as they watch Gukesh struggle in the open section.
Why This Slump Matters
For Gukesh, this tournament is more than just about ranking points or prize money. The FIDE Grand Swiss is a qualifying path for the Candidates Tournament 2026, which is one of the most prestigious events in the chess calendar. The top two finishers get direct entry into the Candidates, which decides who will challenge the reigning world champion (currently Gukesh himself holds the title, so if he maintains his crown until then, he will not need to qualify — but staying at the top means playing strong events consistently).
A poor finish here could affect his confidence going into other elite tournaments and shake his momentum before next year’s cycle of events.
A Test of Mental Strength
Every great chess champion has gone through periods of struggle. Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Garry Kasparov — all have faced moments where things seemed to fall apart before they bounced back stronger. For Gukesh, this could be one such turning point.
What makes champions great is not that they never lose, but that they find a way to recover and learn from setbacks. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how Gukesh approaches the remaining rounds — whether he tries to play safe to stop the losing streak or goes all-in for wins to stay in contention.
Looking Ahead
The coming rounds will be crucial for Gukesh’s campaign. If he manages to score consecutive wins, he could still climb back into the top ten, and with some luck, even compete for a Candidates spot. But more than the results, what chess enthusiasts will be looking for is whether Gukesh can rediscover his fighting spirit and regain confidence.
As commentator Maurice Ashley pointed out, this is not the Gukesh we are used to seeing — but the chess world is hopeful that the real Gukesh will be back soon, ready to thrill fans with his trademark deep calculations and fearless play.
Conclusion
Gukesh’s hat-trick of losses at the FIDE Grand Swiss is undoubtedly a wake-up call, both for him and his fans. But in the history of chess, adversity has often been the catalyst for greatness. This rough patch may end up being the moment that shapes him into an even stronger competitor, mentally tougher and more determined to dominate the world stage.
For now, Indian chess fans have plenty to cheer with Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, and others in good form — and they are hoping Gukesh will soon join them in the winners’ column.
The road to recovery starts with the next game, and all eyes will be on him as he takes his seat at the board once again.
