Gukesh admits criticism from Kasparov and other legends 'is fair': 'They have the right to say...'

Reigning world champion D Gukesh has admitted that the criticism that he has been receiving from some of the greatest players in chess history in recent months is fair due to his performance being "way below expectations".

Gukesh, who turns 20 later this week, was in red-hot form back in 2024, during which he became the youngest winner in the history of the Fide Candidates as well as the World Championship, besides winning individual gold on Board 1 at the Olympiad.

His form, however, has nosedived over the past one year, with Gukesh suffering a hat-trick of defeats at the Grand Swiss and suffering a third-round exit at the World Cup on home soil along the way. He had also failed to make an impression at other major events such as the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, Sinquefield Cup, Tata Steel Chess among others.

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'I have not been performing well in the last 18 months'

The dip in form has led to legends such as Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov and current world No 1 Magnus Carlsen questioning his credentials as a world champion, which the Chennai lad believes is justified.

"Most of the criticism I don’t see," Gukesh was quoted by The Indian Express as saying in a press conference ahead of Norway Chess in Oslo.

"There is some criticism that I have heard and I think the criticism is fair. I have not been performing well in the last 18 months and even I would say (the same thing.) My performance is way below expectations. They have the right to say what they feel and I have the right to do my job as best as I can," he continued.

The loss of form has forced Gukesh to lighten his schedule ahead of his title defence against Javokhir Sindarov, who had won the Candidates in dominant fashion last month, later this year.

The 19-year-old had opted out of this year's Grand Chess Tour but participated in the Super Rapid and Blitz Poland, the opening event in Warsaw, as a wildcard and will make a similar appearance in Zagreb later this summer.

As for the Norway Chess, which has moved to the Norwegian capital from Stavanger this year, Gukesh will be hoping to defeat Carlsen once again after beating the five-time world champion in dramatic fashion at the same event last year.