Gukesh Dommaraju

The reigning world champion. Gukesh won the title from Ding Liren in Singapore in 2024, becoming the youngest undisputed world champion in history. He defends it against Javokhir Sindarov in Cologny, Switzerland, from 24 November 2026.

A grandmaster at 12, he was the youngest player ever to pass 2750, and won individual gold on board one at the 2022 and 2024 Olympiads, the second time as part of India’s gold-medal team.

2026 has been difficult. He finished last at Norway Chess and the Chennai Grand Masters, and dropped the Grand Chess Tour’s classical events to prepare for the match. At the Olympiad in Samarkand he recovered some form, scoring 8½/11 on board four for individual silver as India took team silver.