D Gukesh and Vladimir Kramnik (photo agencies) World Chess Champion D Gukesh has come out strongly against the cheating allegations that have been making the rounds in the chess world, especially those leveled by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Before the Prague International Chess Festival, the 19-year-old made it clear that while he is fundamentally against cheating, he does not agree with the way accusations are made publicly without evidence.
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“Obviously I’m against any kind of unfair or unethical play. I’ve never done it and I really hope no one does, and it’s the kind of problem we’ve been seeing lately. As for Kramnik, I think what he’s doing is obviously, I don’t support it,” the 19-year-old added at a pre-tournament press conference. Gukesh said that in recent years, players and fans have become overly suspicious, making cheating a bigger problem than it really is.“A lot of people have been paranoid the last few years. I think people are making a bigger problem than it really is,” he added.He added that Kramnik’s repeated accusations were damaging to the sport and called for a calmer atmosphere.“And yes, specifically about Kramnik’s accusations, I don’t support most of them. And I think there should be more harmony and calm in chess.”The controversy comes amid growing criticism of Kramnik, who has accused several players of cheating online without providing solid evidence.Many leading names in chess, including Viswanathan Anand and FIDE officials, spoke out against the trend, echoing Gukesh’s call for unity and fairness in the game.Heading into the Prague International Chess Festival, Gukesh is looking to bounce back after mixed results at the World Cup and Tata Steel Masters. Seeded second, he will face stiff competition from the likes of Vincent Keymer and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Despite not being at his best in recent times, Gukesh is currently India’s highest-ranked player.
