From Gukesh to R Pragg: Early WC exits expose harsh truths

Russian Grandmaster Daniil Dubov’s dismissive comments after defeating R Praggnanandhaa highlight a trend of early exits for elite players at the FIDE World Cup 2025. Several top seeds, including World Champion D Gukesh, fell to lower-rated opponents, prompting discussions about the narrowing gap in skill and flaws in the rating system.