D Gukesh responds wittily to online troll

World Chess Champion D Gukesh recently engaged in a viral social media exchange with an online troll. After an anonymous user messaged the 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster suggesting it was ‘Time to retire bro’, Gukesh initially responded with ‘Thanks, bro’. When the user subsequently asked for a chess match, Gukesh replied, ‘Sorry I’m retired bro’, a witty comeback that he shared on Instagram with the caption, ‘Haters are fun bro’. The troll later claimed the interaction was part of a dare from friends.

The light-hearted moment follows a period of scrutiny regarding Gukesh’s recent competitive form. Since becoming the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion in December 2024 by defeating Ding Liren, the Grandmaster has faced challenges in recent tournaments, including a last-place finish at Norway Chess and a winless performance at the Chennai Grandmasters.

Gukesh is currently preparing to defend his world title against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov in Geneva, with the match scheduled to take place from November 25 to December 15, 2026.