World chess champion D Gukesh has rejected former champion Vladimir Kramnik's unsubstantiated cheating claims in online chess, calling for more harmony in the sport. The 19-year-old stated he does not support most of Kramnik's recent actions amid growing criticism following the death of grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. Gukesh made these remarks at a press conference ahead of the Prague International Chess Festival.
At a press conference on February 24, 2026, ahead of the Prague International Chess Festival, reigning world champion D Gukesh addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding cheating allegations in chess. The 19-year-old, the youngest world champion in history, emphasized his opposition to any unethical play while criticizing the paranoia that has gripped the community in recent years.
"Obviously, I’m against any kind of unfair or unethical play," Gukesh said. "I have never done that, and I really hope nobody does that. It’s a kind of problem that we have been seeing lately. Many people over the last couple of years have been very paranoid about cheating. People are making it a bigger problem than it actually is."
Gukesh specifically distanced himself from Vladimir Kramnik, the former world champion who won the title from Garry Kasparov in 2000 and lost it to Viswanathan Anand in 2007. Kramnik has positioned himself as an anti-cheating advocate, repeatedly accusing players, including American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, of online cheating via social media without concrete evidence. Naroditsky, a popular content creator and blitz specialist, faced prolonged scrutiny, which sources link to his recent untimely death.
Following Naroditsky's passing, Kramnik faced backlash from figures including Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin, who stated, "The relentless, baseless accusations and public interrogations he faced in recent months caused him immense pressure and pain." Viswanathan Anand, Levon Aronian, and FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich also criticized Kramnik's approach, with Dvorkovich announcing that Kramnik would be referred to FIDE's ethics disciplinary committee. Kramnik has denied bullying Naroditsky and plans to sue FIDE, claiming a smear campaign against him. Naroditsky's mother noted the emotional toll on her son.
Gukesh, seeded second in the Prague event, called for unity: "Specifically about Kramnik’s allegations, I don’t support most of it – I think there should be more harmony and peace in the chess world." He faces competition from players like Vincent Keymer and Nodirbek Abdusattorov as the festival begins.
