Reigning chess world champion Dommaraju Gukesh is enduring one of the toughest phases of his young career at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The 19-year-old Indian prodigy, who stunned the chess world earlier this year by becoming the youngest world champion in history, has now suffered three consecutive defeats, raising questions about his form and mental state.
The Three Losses
Gukesh’s losing streak started in Round 5, where he lost to American teenager Abhimanyu Mishra, who made history by becoming the youngest player ever to defeat a reigning world champion in a classical game. The setback was followed by another loss in Round 6 to Nikolas Theodorou of Greece.
In Round 7, Gukesh’s struggles deepened when he was defeated by Ediz Gurel, a 16-year-old Turkish Grandmaster. The match saw Gukesh commit a costly blunder in the endgame, leaving him visibly frustrated and holding his head in his hands, a moment that quickly spread on social media and drew sympathy from fans.
Current Standings
After seven rounds, Gukesh has 3 points out of a possible 7, effectively knocking him out of the race for the title. The tournament’s leaderboard is currently dominated by India’s Nihal Sarin, who has rise ahead with consistent performances. For Gukesh, the road back into contention now requires a perfect finish in the remaining rounds, a difficult challenge given his recent form.
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Why Fans Are Concerned
The concern isn’t just about the losses, it’s who he is losing to. All three of Gukesh’s defeats have come against lower-rated players, each at least 100 Elo points below him. For a reigning world champion known for his calmness under pressure and sharp preparation, this dip is unusual.
Fans and experts say this is not normal for him, and headlines like “This is not him” show how surprised people are. Chess experts point to possible factors such as mental fatigue, intense pressure following his World Championship win, or even overtraining. Regardless, the hattrick of losses is a evident reminder of how unforgiving elite chess can be, even for the best players.
A Test of Character
Despite the setback, chess history is filled with champions who rebounded from poor tournaments. At just 19, Gukesh has lots of time to bounce back, and this Grand Swiss could help him learn how to handle pressure and rebuild his confidence. All eyes will now be on Gukesh’s next games, fans will be eager to see if he can steady himself and finish strong.
Written by Kinjal Walantra
