WTF Happened To Gukesh? World Champion Drops Like A Stone After Yet Another Defeat

Being only the 18th classical World Chess Champion carries a certain expectation.

Greats of the past, like Capablanca, Kasparov or even still Carlsen, dominated their time at the top. They carved out eras when everyone knew who was boss. Winning major tournaments was their meat and drink.

But that has not been the case so far for the youngest of them all, India's GM Gukesh D.

The 19-year-old has had a rough start to 2026 and Tuesday's loss to fellow countryman GM Aravindh Chithambaram at the Prague Masters rubbed even more salt into the wounds.

Gukesh blundered badly on move 40 with 33 seconds on the clock after getting low on time. When his loss was confirmed, Gukesh slumped at the table—a sight that is becoming all too familiar.

The result left him embarrassingly (for a world champion) adrift at the bottom of the leaderboard in a super-strong, but not fully elite, event. Karparov would never have stood for this.

Gukesh has suffered three defeats in Prague, lost 19.5 rating points over the six rounds so far and dropped to 20th place in the live ratings list compiled by Chess2700.com.

One of those defeats earlier in the tournament saw Gukesh fail to hit the clock, losing valuable time, in a strange blunder-of-sorts against Dutch GM Jorden Van Foreest.

On Monday, the Indian lost to the in-form Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov after another blunder from a position of strength.

It leaves Gukesh desperately searching for a first win to turn around his fortunes in Prague. In the last three rounds, Gukesh has Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo, GM Vincent Keymer of Germany and GM David Anton Guijarro of Spain.

Gukesh also suffered losses at Wijk aan Zee to GMs Anish Giri and Matthias Bluebaum, two players who will be battling in the Candidates tournament next month to earn the right to challenge him. He's lost six classical games in 2026 and so far won only three.

None of this is a good look for a world champion. Gukesh could be showing signs of burnout, it could be fatigue given his hectic tournament schedule. But only Gukesh knows what's going on.

His performances bring back difficult memories of the fate of his predecessor as world champion GM Ding Liren, who's short-lived reign also saw him struggle. Liren was listed as "inactive" by FIDE after he stopped playing classical games almost entirely.

Gukesh has a world title to defend this year. The FIDE Candidates tournament where his challenger will be determined is also fast approaching. The young king needs to up his game.