NEW DELHI: World chess champion D Gukesh will not play in the 2026 Tata Steel Chess India tournament in Kolkata. Organizers confirmed the news on Friday. The tournament starts on January 7 and Gukesh will be replaced by fellow Indian Nihal Sarin.The event was expected to be Gukesh’s first tournament of the new year. Fans were excited to see the reigning world champion play in India again.
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His absence means they will now have to wait longer to watch him in action.Gukesh was last seen competing at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship. Its sudden withdrawal surprised many, especially since no detailed reason has yet been given.The organizers said that Gukesh withdrew due to personal reasons.“Due to personal reasons, D. Gukesh will not be able to participate in Tata Steel Chess India this year,” tournament director Dibyendu Barua said.Barua admitted that Gukesh’s decision is a big blow to the tournament. “This is definitely a big setback for the organizers and for chess fans in Kolkata. All the chess lovers were eagerly waiting to watch Gukesh play as a world champion in their city for the first time,” Barua told The Indian Express.Tata Steel Chess India is held every year since 2018. The tournament offers fast and lightning games and attracts top players from all over the world. Magnus Carlsen is the defending champion, but he will not return to defend his title this year.Despite Gukesh’s absence, the tournament still boasts a strong line-up. Big names like Viswanathan Anand, Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin will compete in the Open section. The women’s event will feature top stars like Aleksandra Goryachkina, Kateryna Lagno, Divya Deshmukh and R Vaishali.
