D Gukesh drops to world No. 20 in live chess rankings after defeat to Aravindh Chithambaram

D Gukesh resigned in his sixth-round game against Aravindh Chithambaram, and the defeat saw his ranking fall further

Published on: Mar 4, 2026, 09:01:09 IST

Written by Neelav Chakravarti

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Since becoming the world champion in December 2024, D Gukesh has been under plenty of pressure. Opponents are more motivated to face him than they usually are, and his form has also dipped. Now the Indian GM has fallen to world No. 20 in the live chess rankings after his recent defeat to Aravindh Chithambaram.

Gukesh resigned in his sixth-round game against Aravindh, and the defeat saw his ranking fall further, and he also fell to last place in the Prague International Chess Festival. After six rounds, the 19-year-old has lost three games, drawn the other three. The poor performance has cost him 19 rating points.

Also Read: D Gukesh panics and resigns after late blunder, leaves playing hall in visible shock: ‘Completely crazy game’

Against his countryman on Tuesday, Gukesh once again made a huge late blunder. He had to make five moves from his 35th to 40th, with only seconds left on his clock. The engine was on Aravindh's side, but Gukesh also had a rook and a pawn more on the board, in contrast to his opponent's two knights.

But the reigning world champion allowed Aravindh's knights and his rook to lie on the e file, making things hard for his king on h2. His blunder came on move 40, just before he and Aravindh got an additional 30 minutes on their clocks.

Speaking after the game, Aravindh said, "Probably f4 (37. f4) was the crucial mistake because it allowed my knight to jump on like e3 and e2 squares. Maybe if he had played rook d2 instead of f4 like I guess the game would have ended in a draw."

"One of the crucial factors today, I believe, was the time situation. He (Gukesh) was actually getting low on time and with two knights on the board, it actually can get tricky like it happened in the game. So I wanted to not let him find a direct way to equalize the position. Time actually played a crucial factor.

"If he had time I think he would have definitely found rook d3 (on move 40, where Gukesh blundered the game away by playing 40.Rgf3). Rook to d3 was the only move he could have made (to save the game)."

"It was a hard game for both of us. Coming into the game, both of us were having a bad tournament. It was very hard to actually play this game, but I’m happy that I broke my losing streak and managed to win a single game," he further added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neelav Chakravarti
Neelav Chakravarti has been part of the digital sports team at Hindustan Times since 2022, where he covers a wide range of disciplines, including chess, cricket, football, and Olympic sports. Working in a fast-paced digital newsroom, he regularly handles live blogs, breaking updates, and trending stories, combining speed with clarity to keep readers informed in real time. Chess remains both a professional beat and a personal passion for Neelav, and he closely tracks major international tournaments, player narratives, and emerging talents. He is particularly fascinated by the patience, calculation, and strategic depth the game demands, often exploring the psychological side of competition in his writing. Beyond sports journalism, Neelav has a deep interest in visual storytelling and filmmaking, actively participating in film festivals and engaging with independent cinema. He is especially drawn to films that capture the subtleties of everyday life and human relationships, appreciating storytelling that balances realism with emotional depth. This creative interest complements his approach to sports coverage, where he enjoys highlighting the human stories behind performances and results. A history enthusiast by academic training, Neelav holds a bachelor’s degree in the subject and maintains a sustained interest in ancient and medieval Indian history, particularly in cultural and social transitions across eras. His curiosity about the past often shapes his perspective on contemporary narratives and long-form storytelling. When he isn’t tracking scores or developing storylines, Neelav enjoys spending time over the chessboard, relaxing with his cats, or listening to the Empire podcast by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple. He also enjoys reading long-form sports writing that explores the emotional and cultural layers of sport, while maintaining a quiet routine that balances reading, reflection, and occasional time with friends.Read More

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