World chess champion D Gukesh broke his silence on the cheating controversy that has dominated the headlines in the last few years, bringing disgrace to the celebrated sport. Gukesh stated that the problems around cheating in chess have been blown out of proportion.
Former champion Vladimir Kramnik has been infamously levelling charges against several chess players, suspecting cheating during online games.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Prague International festival, Gukesh said he did not support Kramnik’s claims.
“Obviously, I’m against any kind of unfair or unethical play,” “It’s a kind of problem that we have been seeing lately,” Gukesh said.
Did Kramnik go overboard while levelling cheating allegations on American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky?
Kramnik faced intense scrutiny and an FIDE investigation following his public accusations against American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, whom he claimed was cheating in online games. Naroditsky stated that the unfounded accusations had taken a heavy toll on him. Just days before his untimely death at the age of 29, Naroditsky appeared to be very emotional in his last stream.
Gukesh, alongwith world number one Magnus Carlsen, FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and Indian stars Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin, had slammed Kramnik for his allegations without any definite proof.
On the upcoming Candidates tournament, Gukesh said that every player has a good chance and no one is a favourite. He also stated his desire to play compatriot R Praggnanandhaa.
Meanwhile, in the first round of the Prague tournament, Gukesh will take on Hans Moke Niemann of the United States. Niemann, who has fought his way to the top level of chess, is a dangerous customer.
The other Indian in the fray, Aravindh Chithambaram, will face off against Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who recently won the Tata Steel Masters title in India.