Nodirbek Abdusattorov takes dig at D Gukesh when asked to share unpopular chess opinion: 'Is that controversial?'

Chess prodigy from Uzbekistan, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, did not shy away from taking a dig at world champion D Gukesh of India when asked to share an unpopular chess opinion ahead of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 at Samarkand.

Being a local at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, Uzbek Nodirbek Abdusattorov is seen as a favourite to win the tournament, which is part of the FIDE World Championship cycle. The winner and runner-up of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 directly qualify for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026.

As we all know, the winner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will later in the same year compete against Gukesh in the World Chess Championship and to become the next chess world champion.

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Nodirbek Abdusattorov attacks Gukesh in FIDE video

With so much at stake, it’s natural that the players are on edge ahead of the competition as they face a tough field of the world’s best chess players sans Magnus Carlsen. Amid this, Nodirbek Abdusattorov caught up with the FIDE social media team, who asked him to share an unpopular chess opinion.

The response from Nodirbek Abdusattorov was a direct attack on Gukesh, who has been facing criticism from some of the legends in the sport over his world title win.

Giving his opinion, the 20-year-old Nodirbek Abdusattorov said that Gukesh is set to lose his world title next year. “Gukesh will lose his title in the next match. Is that controversial?” Nodirbek Abdusattorov said and asked.

🔥 Nodirbek Abdusattorov shared his unpopular chess opinion... and it’s about Gukesh 👀
Both stars are set to clash at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 — don’t miss it!

Full interview 🔗 https://t.co/ZWghK2UHQY

♟️ FIDE Grand Swiss 2025
📍 Samarkand 🇺🇿
🗓 September 4–15
📺 Live on… pic.twitter.com/Vpokhf2q0i

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 2, 2025

Recently, former world champion and one of the greatest of all time, Garry Kasparov, questioned Gukesh's credentials as a world champion. He went on to compare Gukesh with Carlsen and also took a dig at the 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster for losing a match at the Sinquefield Cup 2025 to compatriot R Praggnanandhaa.

“Gukesh won fair and square but you can hardly call him the strongest player in the world,” Kasparov said. “I don’t want to sound offensive but I think Magnus ended the era of classical world champions. Gukesh’s world championship title is very different.

“It’s still clear that Magnus is the strongest and Gukesh is yet to prove his superiority over others. Even players of his age category. The round 1 game against Praggnanandhaa at the Sinquefield Cup was very unimpressive. The rules are the rules and the games are the games.”

Abdusattorov will be up against Gukesh soon, as both players are part of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 line-up.