Cheating in chess is being projected as a far greater crisis than it truly is, reigning world champion D Gukesh said, distancing himself from former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and his controversial campaign against alleged malpractice in online chess.

Kramnik has filed a defamation lawsuit against FIDE after the governing body criticised his public accusations of cheating against late American Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky and Czech player David Navara.

Naroditsky’s death became a major talking point within the global chess community after he spoke in his final video stream about being under severe mental strain following Kramnik’s allegations. However, a subsequent medical report concluded that his death was accidental and caused by a cardiac issue.

“Obviously, I am against any kind of unfair or unethical play. I have never done that and I really hope nobody does that. It’s a kind of problem that we have been seeing lately,” Gukesh said at the pre-tournament press conference of the Prague Chess Festival.

“I think people are making it (cheating) a bigger problem than what it actually is. Specifically about Kramnik’s allegations, I don’t support most of it. I think there should be more harmony and peace in the chess world,” he added in a measured response.

Several prominent players—including Indians Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi, along with world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen—have criticised Kramnik’s stance, though the Russian has remained steadfast in his position.

“About Kramnik exactly, I mean what he has been doing, obviously I am not supportive of that. Many people, in the last couple of years, have been paranoid about cheating,” Gukesh said.

Also read: Prague Chess Festival: Gukesh eyes his first title

Naroditsky, 29, was also a widely followed content creator, and his passing sparked outrage directed at Kramnik. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky described Kramnik’s accusations against Naroditsky as ‘appalling and outright shameful’. The governing body later initiated an ethics inquiry into Kramnik’s conduct, prompting him to sue FIDE in response.

“I deeply regret that this profound tragedy was exploited by various individuals and groups to advance their own agendas. There can be no justification for such immoral conduct,” Kramnik said last month after Naroditsky’s medical findings were made public.

Meanwhile, Gukesh, who has endured a dip in form over the past few months, is set to defend his world title later this year. When asked about a potential opponent, he named compatriot R Praggnanandhaa as the player he would most like to face.

At the Prague Chess Festival, Gukesh will also face American Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann, another player who has navigated his own controversies en route to the elite level. The other Indian participant in the event, Aravindh Chithambaram, will square off against Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, the recent winner of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament.