Overview
- On Wednesday, Aug. 26, world champion D Gukesh posted a screenshot of a private Instagram exchange with an anonymous user and captioned it “Haters are fun bro.”
- The exchange shows the user saying “Time to retire bro,” Gukesh replying “Thanks, bro,” and then answering a later request for a game with “Sorry I’m retired bro.”
- The same user later told Gukesh that the message was sent to complete a dare from friends, a detail visible in the screenshots he shared.
- Reporters note the light tone of the post comes against a backdrop of weak 2026 results for Gukesh, including a last-place finish at Norway Chess and no wins at the Chennai Grandmasters, and that he has not won a tournament since becoming champion.
- The moment both humanizes Gukesh and keeps attention on whether he can regain form and sustain motivation before he defends the title against Javokhir Sindarov in November–December 2026.