As world champion D Gukesh faces challenges at the Prague International Chess Festival 2026—detailed in prior coverage—several top Indian grandmasters have seen their FIDE rankings decline. This analysis explores potential causes and paths to recovery.
The recent dip in rankings for Indian chess prodigies, including Gukesh Dommaraju, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi, has sparked concern amid Gukesh's ongoing struggles at the Prague Masters, where he apologized emotionally to fans for his form and unavailability for autographs.
Experts point to multiple factors: an overloaded schedule with too many elite events leading to fatigue; distractions from rising fame and media commitments; the 'closed circuit' of invitation-only tournaments limiting diverse opposition; over-reliance on chess engines eroding natural intuition; and a shift away from instinctive playing styles.
Commentators like Pravin Thipsay reference influences from players such as Nodirbek Abdusattorov and historical figures like Garry Kasparov. Solutions may include dialing back events, embracing open tournaments for varied practice, and rediscovering innate strengths over engine-perfect preparation.
Reported from New Delhi, this trend highlights pressures on India's young chess talents post their World Championship successes.