Carlsen Calls Sindarov 'Significant Favorite,' Gives Verdict On Gukesh

Carlsen Calls Sindarov 'Significant Favorite,' Gives Verdict On Gukesh

GM Magnus Carlsen expects GM Javokhir Sindarov to defeat World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, calling the challenger a "pretty significant favorite" and warning that the match could "get a little bit ugly" if Gukesh falls behind early.

The world number-one gave a 35-minute interview to Indian podcaster Prakhar Gupta during the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League last week, speaking candidly about Gukesh's talent, India's young stars, his own future in chess, and the rivals who challenged him throughout his career.

The 35-year-old also said he is "more and more certain" that he will never return to the classical World Championship, and he hinted that he may step away from chess as a full-time career within the next few years.

You can watch the full interview below.

Carlsen was unequivocal when asked to predict the winner of the upcoming FIDE World Championship 2026, which takes place in Geneva, Switzerland from November 24 to December 12.

"I would say at the moment Sindarov is probably a pretty significant favorite," he said, later adding: "I think Sindarov will win because he’s somewhat better-rounded and he is more objective in his evaluations."

I would say at the moment Sindarov is probably a pretty significant favorite.

—Magnus Carlsen

Carlsen did caution that the match could remain close even if Sindarov enters as a clear favorite. With just 14 games and a wide drawing margin in classical chess, he noted that even a one-sided matchup could be decided by only one or two points.

Carlsen faced Gukesh in the final round of Norway Chess in Oslo last June. Photo: Michal Walusza/Norway Chess.

Carlsen’s assessment of Gukesh’s weaknesses was among the bluntest sections of the interview.

"I don’t think it’s a secret to most people that his evaluations are way too optimistic," he said. "That kind of makes him take way more chances than he should. I think especially now that his confidence hasn’t been too high, he just tries to do a little bit too much."

Carlsen suggested that Gukesh’s talent can become a problem when he attempts to reproduce the level he reached in 2024, when he won the FIDE Candidates, scored a fantastic performance at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad, and then topped that by becoming the youngest-ever undisputed world chess champion.

Since then, Gukesh has struggled. In Norway Chess in June 2026, he finished clear last with five losses and only one win. He lost 15 rating points at the event and is now rated 2703—91 points below his October 2024 peak of 2794—and ranked 32nd in the world.

Gukesh’s rating has fallen from 2794 in October 2024 to 2703 in September 2026. Image: Courtesy of FIDE.

"He was able to show the whole array of his talent in 2024, and it must be really frustrating that he’s not able to" now, Carlsen said. "When you’re not able to, you kind of try desperately to do it still, and it doesn’t work."

He was able to show the whole array of his talent in 2024, and it must be really frustrating that he’s not able to.

—Magnus Carlsen on Gukesh

He added that Gukesh does not have an obvious "safety net" when his aggressive approach fails.

"He doesn’t find it easy to just switch gears," Carlsen said, referring to the ability to settle for solid positions and draws.

Gukesh at the rest day of Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo. Photo: Tarjei J. Svensen

During the final rapid-fire segment of the interview, Carlsen rejected the suggestion that Gukesh is currently the world’s best player.

"He’s a very good player. He had a fantastic 2024, one of the best years that anybody’s ever had," he said. "But to argue that he’s anywhere close to being the best player in the world now is not realistic."

Asked to rank five leading players from the younger generation based on their current strength, Carlsen placed GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu first, followed by Sindarov, GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Arjun Erigaisi, and Gukesh.

Praggnanandhaa Leads India’s Talented Generation

Despite his criticism of Gukesh, Carlsen was highly positive about Indian chess. "India certainly has the most talented pool of players in the world, especially on the younger side," he said.

India began its bid to retain the gold medal it won in Budapest in 2024 when the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad commenced Wednesday in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, defeating Thailand 3-1. Alongside host Uzbekistan and the United States, the powerhouse Indian squad is among the leading contenders for the open title.

Carlsen described many of the Indian players as concrete and calculation-oriented, although he noted that their individual styles vary. He also said he generally enjoys facing them because of their aggressive approach.

Praggnanandhaa won Norway Chess and finished second in the 2026 Sinquefield Cup. Photo: Michal Walusza/Norway Chess.

Carlsen identified Praggnanandhaa—who was interviewed by Chess.com after winning Norway Chess—as the player producing the best results, while stressing that the hierarchy has changed repeatedly.

"Their peaks are already very, very high, on par with practically everyone," he said. "But none of them are consistent enough yet to set themselves very much apart from the others."

The world number-one thinks Praggnanandhaa has a real chance of reaching a World Championship match: "I like his fighting spirit a lot," he said. "He has a really good feeling for the game. He calculates well."

"More And More Certain That I’m Never Coming Back"

Carlsen, who declined to defend his classical world championship title again after defeating GM Ian Nepomniachtchi in Dubai in 2021, once again ruled out returning to the cycle.

"The further away that I get from having played my last World Championship, I just am more and more certain that I’m never coming back," he said. "I never liked it particularly, and now I’m able to do other things that I like more."

The further away that I get from having played my last World Championship, I just am more and more certain that I’m never coming back.

—Magnus Carlsen

Asked whether any player could motivate him to return, he said: "At the moment, it has nothing to do with the players. I just have no interest in it."

Magnus Carlsen during the Global Chess League. Photo: Global Chess League.

He also declined to propose changes to the format, despite having previously advocated for a championship incorporating faster time controls.

"I’m not a part of the classical World Championship. I’m not going to be there. I’ve kind of been there, done that," he said. "I think the classical World Championship has a right to exist the way that it is, and I let others both play and have opinions on the matter."

He also said organizers should not plan the long-term future of chess around his preferences. "I don’t have any ambitions in chess at this point," he said. "I just like playing."

However, he stopped short of announcing an imminent retirement. "I kind of want to do this a few more years, and then we’ll see. That’s kind of what I’m thinking."

I kind of want to do this a few more years, and then we’ll see.

—Magnus Carlsen

Asked what he meant by "we’ll see," Carlsen said: "I don’t see myself leaving completely anytime soon, and I’ll probably want to play occasionally. But as kind of a full-time thing, then no, I don’t see that for super long."

"I Enjoy Playing The Trickier Opponents"

Carlsen also discussed his rivalry with GM Hikaru Nakamura, saying he has enjoyed competing against the American in blitz and bullet for around 20 years. His assessment of their rivalry in classical chess was considerably more dismissive.

"In terms of classical chess, it’s not really been that much of a competition," he said, referring to his 14-1 advantage in decisive classical games. "I think he certainly had some ambitions back in the day that kind of made it at least a rivalry in his mind, but for me it hasn’t been."

Asked whether there was an especially tricky opponent he did not enjoy facing, Carlsen rejected the premise.

"I kind of enjoy playing the trickier opponents—the ones that play with a little bit of a different style than I do and challenge me to get out of my comfort zone," he said.

Carlsen scored 7/12 for Alpine APL Pipers in the Global Chess League. Photo: Global Chess League.

Carlsen named several players who had presented that kind of challenge throughout his career. "I would say Alireza still does that. When I was very young, Vishy [Anand] for sure. Hikaru to some extent, Fabi [Caruana], Levon Aronian very much so," he said. "There are certainly many of those opponents. [Alexander] Morozevich back in the day is another one, [Vladimir] Kramnik to some degree."

"There have been tons and tons of very interesting opponents and people who can outplay me on a good day and really challenge me to realize that there are some things that others can do better than me at times," Carlsen added.

There have been tons and tons of very interesting opponents and people who can outplay me on a good day and really challenge me to realize that there are some things that others can do better than me at times.

—Magnus Carlsen

When asked to rank four of his leading contemporaries by classical strength, Carlsen put GM Fabiano Caruana first, followed by Nepomniachtchi, Nakamura, and GM Sergey Karjakin.

Asked whether he had ever experienced a moment when he recognized himself as the greatest player of all time, Carlsen rejected the premise. "I don’t look at myself that way," he said. "I’m rarely very happy with my games."

The interview also touched on artificial intelligence, Carlsen’s approach to evaluating positions, football, and his life away from chess. Asked what excites him now, his answer was considerably less complicated than many of his chess evaluations.

"I like being with my family," Carlsen said, before describing his young son as "the greatest human being in the history of the world."