Can Chess Prodigy Gukesh Conquer the World Cup Too?

By Harshit - Oct 31, 2025 05:51 PM
Last updated on Oct 31, 2025 05:51 PM

“I may be the world champion, but I’m not the best player in the world,” said D Gukesh Dommaraju in Singapore last year — one of his first public remarks after claiming the crown. Now, nearly a year on, Gukesh returns to Indian soil to compete in the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa — his first major home event since becoming world champion. The question now: has he taken strides toward his next goal of being the very best in the world?

A glance at his 2025 results would suggest the answer is a little more complicated than a simple “yes.” At the prestigious Tata Steel Masters 2025 in Wijk aan Zee, he finished second to R Praggnanandhaa after tiebreaks. Then came ninth at the Superbet Chess Classic in Romania; a strong second to Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess; eighth at the Sinquefield Cup; and a shocking 41st place at the FIDE Grand Swiss — before finally winning gold on top board at the European Club Championships.

In the midst of these swings, Gukesh also tried his hand at faster time-controls and exhibition tournaments, including the Freestyle Chess event at Weissenhaus, where he finished eighth. The mixed results raise pressing questions: Is his team’s aggressive schedule paying off? Or has the experiment of stretching formats back-fired on his classical chess form?

A Young Champion’s Realism and Ambition

As he lifted the world title, Gukesh was refreshingly grounded. He told interviewers that while becoming champion was a milestone, there were still players he considered stronger. His humility in the moment of triumph underscored a deeper understanding: being champion doesn’t mean resting on laurels, but embarking on a new journey altogether.

Part of his ambition is precisely this — to stay at the top “for as long as possible” and to keep improving. In multiple interviews, he said that his biggest goal is to be “the best player in the world.” That sense of self-awareness — to recognise he is champion yet still in pursuit — defines the mindset of a modern elite sportsman.

2025: A Testing Year for Form and Focus

The numbers tell a story of testing waters rather than dominating them. Finishing second at Tata Steel is commendable, but not a breakthrough. A ninth-place finish in Romania and a disappointing 41st at the Grand Swiss suggest inconsistency. While in Norway Chess he grabbed a high-profile win over Magnus, which was certainly a morale boost.

A key reason lies in his schedule and experimentations — Gukesh and his team appear to be pushing boundaries: different formats, quick and blitz time-controls, exhibitions, travel. Such diversification can help long term, but at his age (19) the challenge is maintaining classical chess sharpness. Gukesh himself admitted that while his energy and focus are advantages, his relative lack of experience still counts.

Format Shift and Its Impact on Classical Chess

When a priority is trying to become ‘best in the world’, many players face the temptation to compete everywhere, constantly. But chess purists warn this can dilute one’s edge in classical chess. In Gukesh’s case, his push into rapid, blitz, and exhibitions might be a reason his classical form hasn’t been rock-solid this year. His loss at the Grand Swiss was cited as a wake-up moment for him and his team.

Meanwhile, his victory over Magnus at Norway Chess was a reminder of his potential — once he finds consistency. Even his toughest competitors acknowledge that Gukesh has all the qualities of a long-term champion: strong opening preparation, solid nerves, and immense calculation ability. The question that remains is whether he can transform that potential into unbroken dominance.

The World Cup in Goa: A Chance to Reset

The FIDE World Cup in Goa offers Gukesh both a platform and an opportunity. As world champion and top seed, there’s no pressure of qualification — only expectation. The field is filled with the best players, including peers ranked close to him, and the format will favour resilience, stamina, and high-level preparation.

For Gukesh, the first goal is simple: avoid the kinds of losses he has endured this year, especially to players ranked 100 rating-points lower. He’s already beaten big names like Anish Giri and Vincent Keymer, and even in exhibitions he defeated Caruana and Nakamura. The next step is stringing such wins into classical tournament runs, under pressure, and repeatedly. If he does that, the claim of “best in the world” might not stay an ambition for long.

Lessons Learned and Road Ahead

The Versace chess squad is here! 🔥
Magnus, Hikaru, Fabiano, and Gukesh are ready to fight in the Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown!
Photo by Lennart Ootes/St Louis Chess Club #clutchchess #chess #magnuscarlsen #gukesh pic.twitter.com/mvkCFWlDvQ

— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) October 26, 2025

For a young champion, growth often comes through introspection and course-correction. Gukesh has spoken openly about his emotions, how meditation and discipline helped him turn from an impulsive teenager to a composed world champion. The willingness to evolve off-board as well as on it is a hallmark of all great sports careers.

So while 2025 may not yet be the year of full dominance for Gukesh, it might instead be the year of shaping. The tests he has endured, the formats he has embraced, the wins and losses all may feed into a stronger foundation. If he arrives in Goa with clarity, focus and strategic intent, the next chapter could well be the one where he shifts from champion to true world-beater.

Final Word: From Champion to Contender for the Best

Gukesh’s story thus far is remarkable: youngest ever world champion, India’s chess icon, a player with raw talent, ambition and organisational support. But his own admission — “I’m not the best player in the world” — ensures his quest continues.

Now competing at home, under familiar lights, in a tournament that demands depth and consistency, he has the chance to redefine his standing. If he plays with the power he demonstrated at peak and learns from the dips of 2025, fans could be witnessing the emergence of the next great era of chess dominated by India’s prodigy.

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