Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi has made headlines with his candid remarks regarding reigning World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh's performance, stating that nearly every top grandmaster would likely have a good chance against him in a World Championship match. Speaking at the Sardinia World Chess Festival 2026, Nepomniachtchi highlighted Gukesh's inconsistency over the past year, noting that while he has shown flashes of brilliance, his overall performance has been troubling. Nepomniachtchi commented, "He just plays badly at times," which raises concerns for Gukesh's title defense against Javokhir Sindarov. Gukesh, who made history as the youngest world champion in 2024, has struggled recently, prompting him to take a break from classical chess to focus on preparation. In contrast, Sindarov has been in exceptional form, winning the FIDE World Cup and finishing with a record 10 points at the 2026 Candidates tournament. While Sindarov is currently favored, Nepomniachtchi cautioned that the dynamic nature of chess means anything can happen before their match in November, especially if either player experiences a dip in form.