Kasparov: ‘Carlsen has ended the era of world champions’

When Garry Kasparov speaks, the chess world listens. But his recent remarks on India’s teenage sensation Gukesh Dommaraju have sent ripples far beyond the 64 squares. The former world champion believes that Magnus Carlsen’s abdication in 2022 did more than end his personal reign — it ended the era of classical world champions altogether.

“Gukesh won fair and square,” Kasparov said in an interview on August 22. “But obviously, you can hardly call him the strongest player in the world. Magnus ended the era of world champions. That’s the reality.”

For Kasparov, the distinction is not between winners and losers, but between what the title of world champion once represented and what it represents now. He argues that Gukesh’s crown cannot be compared to the championships of Bobby Fischer, Anatoly Karpov, himself, or even Carlsen.

A different kind of title

Kasparov is no stranger to questions of legitimacy. From 1993 to 2006, he ran his own championship cycle outside FIDE, creating a fractured system where players like Alexander Khalifman, Ruslan Ponomariov, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, and Veselin Topalov held official FIDE titles but were often not recognized as the true “classical” champions.

Now, he sees echoes of that split. Carlsen remains the world’s top-rated player and dominant force, yet he stepped aside voluntarily in 2022, leaving Ding Liren to beat Ian Nepomniachtchi for the official crown. Gukesh’s victory over Ding in 2024 cemented his place in history as the youngest world champion, breaking Kasparov’s own record set in 1985. But for Kasparov, the title lacks the same aura.

“Of course, the rules are the rules, games are the games, and sport is sport,” he acknowledged. “But I have to apologize, because it’s not exactly the same title that I had, or Karpov had, or Fischer, or Magnus.”

The Ding factor

Kasparov also drew a sharp contrast between his own ascent and Gukesh’s path. When he dethroned Karpov in 1985, Kasparov did so against what he called “the strongest player in the world.” In Gukesh’s case, he argued, the competition was different.

“Gukesh was, in my view, a favorite because Ding was a pale shadow of what he was before COVID,” Kasparov said. “I remember Ding’s phenomenal performance in St. Louis in 2019 against Carlsen. Absolutely phenomenal! But COVID ruined him. After that, Ding was just a different player. Still resilient, still creative, but no longer the same force.”

By this measure, Gukesh’s victory was historic but conditional. “What Gukesh managed is phenomenal,” Kasparov admitted. “But I beat the strongest player to become champion. Gukesh is in a different situation because Magnus is still there. Gukesh is official world champion, but Magnus is widely considered, by all metrics, as the better player.”

The weight of Carlsen’s shadow

Kasparov’s central point is that Carlsen’s presence alters everything. Even in “retirement” from the classical crown, the Norwegian remains active, winning elite events and staying world number one. His decision not to defend the title didn’t lower his standing; instead, it raised questions about the value of the title itself.

“Carlsen ended the era of world champions,” Kasparov repeated. “He is still the strongest. Gukesh has not proven his superiority, even among players of his own age group. Look at his loss to Praggnanandhaa in the Sinquefield Cup — very unimpressive.”

Such bluntness has fueled debate. Some see Kasparov as speaking a hard truth: that the world championship no longer defines the best player. Others argue he is diminishing the accomplishments of a teenager who has already rewritten history books.

The numbers behind the debate

The data provides ammunition for both sides. At just 19, Gukesh is ranked fifth in the world with an Elo rating over 2750 — an extraordinary feat in itself. His victory in the 2024 World Championship was decisive, and he holds the record as the youngest ever champion.

Yet his recent form has been mixed. At the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, he finished mid-table, with 2.5 points after five rounds, including defeats to Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. By contrast, Carlsen continues to dominate super-tournaments and rapid events, maintaining a gap that statistics alone struggle to close.

Legacy versus legitimacy

What is ultimately at stake is the meaning of the title itself. In Kasparov’s view, the championship crown once symbolized the pinnacle of chess — the undeniable proof of supremacy. Today, he believes it no longer carries the same weight.

“The upcoming world finals will still be exciting,” he said. “But it’s not the same as when I, or Karpov, or Fischer, or Magnus held it.”

Still, Kasparov concedes that Gukesh has both time and opportunity on his side. “He has plenty of room to improve,” he said. “And that’s a challenge I’m sure he’s dealing with.”

A teenager under pressure

For Gukesh, the shadow of Carlsen is both burden and motivation. He has already achieved what few could dream of — lifting the world title before turning 20. Yet he faces the constant reminder that another player, outside the official cycle, is still considered superior.

This duality — legitimacy without supremacy — is what defines the current era of chess. And it is what prompted Kasparov to declare it the “end of world champions.”

Whether time proves him right will depend on Gukesh himself. If the young Indian can climb to world number one and consistently beat Carlsen and his peers, the debate may fade. Until then, every move he makes will be scrutinized not just on the board, but in the shadow of history.