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Gukesh Dommaraju and Divya Deshmukh, Indian chess prodigies, faced off at the FIDE Grand Swiss in Uzbekistan. Their first classical format encounter ended in a draw after a 103-move battle. Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay analysed the game, highlighting Divya's unusual opening and Gukesh's missed opportunities. With the draw, Gukesh, undergoing a slump, fell out of the top 10 in live ratings.

D Gukesh, the world champion, faced another setback at the FIDE Grand Swiss, losing to Nikolas Theodorou on Tuesday after a previous defeat. Theodorou, surprised by Gukesh's opening, capitalised on a missed threefold repetition claim by Gukesh. Despite Gukesh's ambition to win with the White pieces, Theodorou secured the victory in 47 moves.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky refuted Hikaru Nakamura's claims that the Candidates' rating qualification spot was designed for Magnus Carlsen's potential return. Sutovsky clarified that the rule has existed for years and now benefits top players like Nakamura. He emphasised the spot ensures the inclusion of the world's best, not specifically targeting Carlsen, whose return is deemed unlikely.

D Gukesh, the youngest World Chess Champion, revealed that Viswanathan Anand's advice helped him recover after a poor start in Singapore. The 19-year-old admitted overconfidence led to a loss in the opening game, serving as a wake-up call. He revealed the 'pep talk' that gave him perspective and ultimately led to victory.