Before becoming a chess outcast for pro-Putin comments, Sergey Karjakin was the OG prodigy who stopped Magnus Carlsen’s bid at becoming youngest Grandmaster
Last week, a shock name made an appearance on the FIDE ratings list for March 2026. Sergey Karjakin, who had been persona non grata from the chess world for the past four years, was suddenly World no.10. Then, as social media outrage grew with some pointing out that he had defeated an eight-year-old kid in a privately-arranged match in Moscow to get back his “active” status, Karjakin was hastily removed with FIDE saying the event he had played in was not registered in time. Thus, Karjakin went back to being an “inactive” player as he has been since 2022 when FIDE banned him for six months for statements backing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Karjakin is usually remembered these days — if he is remembered at all — for being the challenger to Magnus Carlsen in the 2016 World Chess Championship held in New York City or his comments in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin. ALSO READ | In Freestyle Chess World Championship, Magnus Carlsen has found a stage that excites him But Karjakin’s story …
