Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov, when asked to share an "unpopular chess opinion", said world champion Gukesh D "will lose his title in the next match". "Is that controversial?" he asked. Calling Abdusattorov a "great player", Gukesh reacted, saying the 20-year-old is still to qualify for the FIDE Candidates 2026. "So it's one more step to become world champion," he added.