D Gukesh has been going through a lean patch since becoming the youngest chess world champion, struggling in the second half of 2025 including in the Classical format. Russian GM Andrey Esipenko, however, has come to the 19-year-old Indian chess star’s defence.
Amid Gukesh's poor run, Candidates 2026 participant Esipenko comes to world champion's defence: 'He is still very...'

