The history that D. Gukesh has created in the world of Chess, is very pleasing and must be welcomed with great warmth. He became the first teenager to win the FIDE Candidates Tournament that was organised in Toronto. After this victory, he became the youngest challenger to the World Chess Champion. He is also the only person other than Viswanathan Anand to win this tournament representing India. Vishwanathan Anand was the greatest Indian player for more than three decades. Mukesh has gone past Viswanathan Anand’s record last year.
One step closer to becoming the World Champion
With this victory in the FIDE Candidates Tournament, Gukesh is now One step closer to becoming the world champion and achieve the dream that he saw when he started playing chess. The winner of the Candidates Tournament can challenge the world champion. Currently the world chess champion is Ding Liren from China. Gukesh will face Ding Liren to become the next Chess World Champion.
Interestingly Mukesh was not at all a favourite to win the tournament at its commencement. The victory of Gukesh is no less than a wonder. However, there is no taking away from the young kid, his excellence and skills were absolutely unmatched in this tournament.
Faced Hikaru Nakamura in the final round
In the final round of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, Gukesh faced United States’ Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. This match ended up in a draw. Gukesh had 8.5 points before this draw, whereas Hikaru Nakamura had 8 points. This was the most important match of his chess career so far and he faced world number- 3 Hikaru Nakamura with the black pieces. Fabiano Caruana and Iam Nepomniachtchi were runners-up with 8 points each. As soon as the match ended in a draw, Gukesh reached 9 points and Hikaru reached 8.5 points. After this match all eyes were on the match between Fabiano Caruana and Iam Nepomniachtchi. It also ended in a draw leading to the victory of Gukesh with a highest point total in the tournament.
More about Gukesh
Gukesh was born on the 29th of May 2006. He had crossed 2700 rating in chess at the tender age of 16 years, 1 months and 17 days. He is the youngest Indian ever to achieve this feat. Gukesh became the 6th India ever to cross the rating barrier of 2700 after Vishy Anand, Sasikiran, Harikrishna, Vidit and Adhiban. Gukesh is as of now the No.1 chess player in India and worldwide at No.6
More about FIDE Candidates Tournament
Candidates tournament is the strongest chess tournament that happens once every two years to find the challenger of the world champion for the title. Last time an Indian won the candidates was Vishwanathan Anand in 2014. A decade later Gukesh has now become the second Indian and youngest player ever to win the Candidates. This is a historic moment for Indian chess.
-Rahul Dubey