Gukesh apologises to fans; Indian stars slip in rankings: what’s going wrong?

Gukesh Dommaraju’s emotional apology during the Prague Masters highlighted a broader dip in form among India’s top players, including Arjun Erigaisi and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. Experts cite heavy schedules, distractions from fame, repetitive elite events and overreliance on engine preparation as factors. It is also likely that the slump is temporary.

By JYOTIRMOY HALDER