Thipsay makes bold Gukesh prediction ahead of World Championship: 'Sindarov hasn't reached that class yet'

India’s third grandmaster Pravin Thipsay believes reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju will have the edge over his challenger Javokhir Sindarov when the two meet in the upcoming FIDE World Chess Championship 2026 match.

Speaking about the highly anticipated contest, Thipsay told RevSportz that Sindarov has been playing impressive chess since his victory at the Chess World Cup in Goa last year, but he has not yet reached the level Gukesh has shown at his best.

"If Gukesh is at his best and Sindarov is at his best, it will be a good match. But still, it will go in favour of the Indian. Gukesh will win," Thipsay was quoted as saying.

The former national champion and an Arjuna awardee added that the result could depend heavily on Gukesh’s own performance, especially considering the level he displayed during major team events over the past few years.

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"I think Sindarov has been playing wonderfully since the World Cup (last year), but if you look at Gukesh’s best, I think Sindarov hasn’t reached that class yet. So, it all depends on how Gukesh plays because Gukesh’s performance in the Olympiad 2024, when he won the gold or 2022 Olympiad, when he won first eight games was unparalleled and even Sindarov is not in a position to perform that well. So, a lot will depend on how Gukesh plays," he added.

Also Read: Gukesh vs Sindarov showdown doesn't have an outright favourite, says world No 6 Keymer: 'Things change very quickly'

Gukesh's struggle with poor form continues

Gukesh is currently going through a challenging phase in his career after a series of disappointing results. The 20-year-old finished at the bottom of the standings at Norway Chess 2026, a tournament won by fellow Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa.

The struggles have come after a historic achievement in 2024, when Gukesh became the youngest-ever world champion in chess history at the age of 18 after defeating Ding Liren.

However, since winning the title, the Indian star has struggled to maintain his best form. He has endured poor performances in several major events and his live rating has also dropped significantly in recent months.

Also Read: Gukesh drops bombshell on his poor form ahead of Sindarov clash: 'The truth is I care. I do get affected'

With only a few months remaining before his title defence, questions remain about whether Gukesh can regain his championship-winning form before facing Sindarov.

Sindarov, who secured his place as the 2026 Candidates winner, has also seen a slight dip in form after dominating the tournament in April. Despite that, several experts continue to consider the Uzbek grandmaster a strong contender to become the next world champion.