The build-up to the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in Samarkand has taken a dramatic turn after Uzbekistan’s top Grandmaster, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, delivered a bold statement aimed directly at reigning World Champion D Gukesh.In a light-hearted segment with FIDE’s media team, Abdusattorov was asked to share an “unpopular chess opinion”. Without hesitation, the 20-year-old fired a shot at the Indian prodigy: “Gukesh will lose his title in the next match. Is that controversial?” His comment quickly spread online, sparking debates among fans and pundits about whether it was playful banter or mind games ahead of a crucial tournament.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The Grand Swiss carries huge stakes, as both the winner and runner-up earn tickets to the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The eventual winner of the Candidates will then challenge Gukesh for the world title later that year.Watch:For Gukesh, however, the Grand Swiss is not about qualification. As the reigning world champion, the 19-year-old is already guaranteed a place in the title match. Yet he chose to participate, stressing his desire to test himself in the Swiss format. “There are not many super strong open tournaments like this. It’s an opportunity for me to play differently and prove myself,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday.Gukesh also praised the competitiveness of the field, declining to name favourites, and even acknowledged Abdusattorov as “a great champion and competitor.” His calm tone contrasted sharply with Abdusattorov’s jab, underlining the contrasting approaches of the two rising stars.ALSO READ: FIDE Grand Swiss: Divya Deshmukh only Indian female in Open section; D Gukesh, surprisingly, in contentionWith Fabiano Caruana already securing a Candidates berth and India’s Praggnanandhaa almost certain to qualify via the FIDE circuit, the Grand Swiss promises to be a fierce battleground. Abdusattorov’s remark has only added more spice to what was already shaping up as one of the most anticipated events of the year.
