“Gukesh should forget he’ll never be Magnus Carlsen,” says Hikaru Nakamura

WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN

Indian World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, advised by American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, to overcome current slump ahead of his title defence, with the exact timing and location of the defence not publicly disclosed as of the latest update from The Bridge — Chess on August 2026.

Background and Advice

Gukesh Dommaraju, the current World Champion, has been facing a significant slump since his 2024 World Championship win, reflected in his dropped FIDE rating to 2703 in August 2026. Hikaru Nakamura attributes this decline to the overwhelming pressure Gukesh is under, both externally and internally, suggesting he needs to block out these distractions.

Nakamura advises Gukesh to accept that he will never be compared favorably to Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and instead focus on his own game, potentially including being more willing to take draws when necessary.

Upcoming Title Defence

Gukesh is set to defend his title against Uzbek challenger Javokhir Sindarov. Despite considering Gukesh the underdog, Nakamura believes the match will be close, estimating Sindarov’s chances at 75% if the match were to happen immediately, given current form.

Indian Chess Transformation

Nakamura also highlighted the remarkable growth of Indian chess, attributing its beginnings to Vishwanathan Anand, whom he still considers the best Indian player ever. He expects Gukesh, along with Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa, to remain key figures in future World Championship races, noting their current strong form despite recent setbacks.

Key Highlights

• Gukesh’s FIDE rating dropped to 2703 in August 2026.
• Advice to Gukesh: Ignore comparisons to Magnus Carlsen and external pressures.
• Title defence against Javokhir Sindarov considered close, with Sindarov favored.
• Indian chess seen as flourishing, with Anand as its “godfather”.
• Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Praggnanandhaa expected to compete in future World Championships.

Source

This report is based on information published by The Bridge — Chess.

Official source: https://thebridge.in/chess/gukesh-forget-he-never-magnus-carlsen-hikaru-nakamura-57255