At just 17 years old, Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has indelibly etched his name in the folklore of chess history with an extraordinary and remarkable accomplishment. By clinching victory in the prestigious Candidates Chess Tournament, Gukesh has achieved a milestone that reverberates across the chess world and infused pride in every Indian's heart. His triumph crowns him as the youngest-ever challenger to the world title and sets the stage for an epic showdown against reigning champion Ding Liren of China later this year.
D Gukesh's path to glory
Gukesh's path to glory was marked by remarkable skill and resilience. Throughout the tournament, he showcased his strategic prowess and tactical brilliance, accumulating an impressive nine out of a possible 14 points. In a thrilling climax, Gukesh secured the decisive point needed for victory by drawing his final round game against the formidable American, Hikaru Nakamura.
In achieving this historic feat, Gukesh follows in the footsteps of the legendary Viswanathan Anand, who previously held the title of the only Indian to win the Candidates tournament, accomplishing this feat in 2014. Anand, a five-time world champion and Gukesh's mentor at WACA Chess, lauded the young prodigy for his remarkable achievement. Taking to X, Anand expressed his pride in Gukesh's ability to navigate through challenging situations with poise and determination.
"Congratulations to D Gukesh for becoming the youngest challenger. The WACA chess family is so proud of what you have done. I'm personally very proud of how you played and handled tough situations. Enjoy the moment," Viswanathan Anand wrote on X.
A draw gives Gukesh the win
The culmination of Gukesh's journey to victory hinged on the outcome of the final game between Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and top-seeded American Fabiano Caruana. With the stakes at their highest, fate aligned in Gukesh's favor as the game ended in a draw. Had either player emerged victorious, the tournament would have necessitated a tie-break, potentially altering the course of history.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
'Let's do away with this impact player rule': RCB star pacer Mohammed Siraj makes urgent plea as batters continue to rule the roost in IPL 2024
'I wasn't treated very well. If I ever write a book...': Ex-India and KKR star makes shocking revelation, shares horrible ordeal
