"Gukesh convincingly won the 2024 World Chess Championship, but we clearly can't call him the best player," Kasparov said on 22/8. "I don't mean to offend anyone, but Carlsen ended the era of the world champion. Gukesh's title is different from the times of Alexander Khalifman or Ruslan Ponomariov. But the fact is, Carlsen is still the strongest player right now."
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Kasparov (left) and Gukesh before the Croatia Rapid & Blitz, 1/7/2025. Photo: Grand Chess Tour |
Kasparov (left) and Gukesh before the Croatia Rapid & Blitz, 1/7/2025. Photo: Grand Chess Tour
Kasparov alluded to the period from 1993 to 2006 when he held his own world championship separate from FIDE. FIDE champions of that time like Khalifman, Ponomariov, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, and Veselin Topalov weren't considered the true world champion because there were two parallel championships.
Gukesh, and before him Ding Liren, are considered world champions, even though they aren't the strongest players. Carlsen relinquished his title in 2022 but didn't organize a separate championship like Kasparov. Therefore, the FIDE World Chess Championship isn't disputed.
"But Gukesh hasn't yet proven his superior strength, even against his peers," Kasparov added. "His loss to Praggnanandhaa in the first round of the Sinquefield Cup wasn't impressive at all. Upcoming world championships will still be interesting, but I'm sorry to say that the title of world champion isn't the same as it was in my time, Anatoly Karpov's, Bobby Fischer's, or Carlsen's."
Gukesh became world champion after defeating Ding in the finals late last year. The 19-year-old is currently ranked fifth in the world in standard chess Elo ratings. Carlsen held the top spot for a record 14 consecutive years. At the ongoing Sinquefield Cup, a standard chess tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Gukesh is currently ranked fifth out of 10 players, with 2.5 points after 5 rounds.
Gukesh will defend his title at the end of 2026. The challenger will be determined by the Candidates Tournament, scheduled for March 2026.
Xuan Binh
