Defending champion Ding Liren says his Indian challenger D Gukesh can be considered the favourite to win their eagerly-anticipated world chess title showdown in November, conceding that he has “dropped a lot” in the last one year.

The two are currently competing in the 45th Chess Olympiad here and the Indian team has been on a roll with five consecutive victories. The quartet of Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi and Arjun Erigaisi currently occupy the top spot alongside Liren’s China and hosts Hungary.