India, Jan. 27 -- D Gukesh has been the center of attention at the ongoing Tata Steel Masters chess tournament. The current world champion has drawn significant crowds, with fans eagerly gathering to see him as he exits the venue each day. Last month, the 18-year-old made history by becoming the youngest world champion after defeating Ding Liren in Singapore.

The championship culminated in a critical fourteenth game, which initially seemed to be unfolding according to Liren's strategy, as he aimed to force a tie-breaker. However, a critical error by the Chinese grandmaster during the 55th move led to his resignation, marking a historic loss to Gukesh. Despite this victory, D Gukesh acknowledged that he did not consider himself the best in the world, attributing that title to Magnus Carlsen, who notably chose not to defend his title against Ian Nepomniachtchi at the 2023 Championship.

Carlsen, the World No. 1, cited a lack of motivation and expressed a preference for tournaments over championship matches. He also opted out of the cycle for the World Chess Championship 2024. Following Gukesh's victory over Liren, Carlsen indicated he would not pursue the title after Gukesh publicly challenged him.

However, it appears that Carlsen has reconsidered his stance, as he recently made significant comments to Chess24. He has also been providing commentary on some matches at the Tata Masters for Chess24. He remarked, "I have fond memories of participating in Tata Steel Chess. It has felt like a rejuvenation of the spirit to engage in chess for three weeks. In recent years, my enthusiasm for classical play has diminished. Perhaps playing one last time would be beneficial."

He further added, "While I do feel a desire to compete against these top players, I am currently content as a spectator. I am immensely appreciative of everything this tournament has offered, and I certainly do not dismiss the possibility of returning."

The Tata Steel Masters is an integral component of the FIDE cycle. Should Carlsen decide to re-enter the FIDE World Championship cycle, he is anticipated to contest Gukesh for the world championship title. However, to facilitate this, he must secure victory in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.

The Candidates Tournament will feature participants including Fabiano Caruana, who emerged as the victor of the 2024 FIDE Circuit, the top two finishers from the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament, the top three finishers at the 2025 Chess World Cup, the winner of the 2025 FIDE Circuit, and the player with the highest average rating from August 2025 to January 2026. The forthcoming world championship in the classical format is scheduled for 2026, with the Candidates winner set to challenge Gukesh.

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