Seventeen-year-old chess sensation D Gukesh has made headlines by dethroning his idol, Viswanathan Anand, as India's top-ranked chess player. Climbing up the FIDE ratings, Gukesh now outperforms Anand by four Elo points, a feat that ends Anand's 37-year reign. Currently in preparation for the Asian Games and an invitational tournament, Gukesh revealed in an exclusive interview that he's already moved past his recent World Cup quarterfinal loss to chess world champion Magnus Carlsen.
"It's (loss) already quite some time back, it's fine there are things ahead and I'm focusing on that," Gukesh told PTI. The young prodigy doesn't have a sponsor but credits his success largely to the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), which he joined in 2021.
"(Viswanathan) Anand sir congratulated me; undoubtedly he has played a huge role in my career. He has been my biggest hero and idol. I hope he is happy with my achievement," Gukesh expressed. With an Elo rating exceeding 2750, Gukesh now holds the record for being the youngest player to cross this milestone, outpacing even Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
Now ranked No. 8 globally, Gukesh hails from Anand’s hometown, Chennai, making their rivalry all the more compelling. Alongside Anand, he is one of only two Indians within the world’s top-10 rankings. India's R Praggnanandhaa trails behind at No. 3 nationally and No. 19 globally.
The World Cup in Baku recently witnessed a historic four Indians reaching the quarterfinals. Praggnanandhaa notably secured a Candidates spot and became the youngest runner-up in the tournament's history. As for Gukesh's ambitions towards earning a Candidates spot himself, he remains focused on improvement. "Let's see, who knows what will happen. Right now, my goal is to just improve my game and see where it takes me," he said.
Born to a family of doctors, Gukesh's journey to becoming India’s youngest Grandmaster at 12 years and seven months is remarkable. His father, Dr Rajini Kanth, an ENT surgeon, ceased his practice to accompany Gukesh to global tournaments, while his mother, Dr Padma Kumari, remains the family's primary breadwinner.
"Our expenses are mainly managed with our savings, his prize money, some cash awards from school and funding from our batch-mates," said Dr Rajini Kanth, emphasizing the family’s sacrifices for Gukesh’s chess career. With WACA and occasional support like the cash award from Microsense, the family manages to cover the significant costs of chess training and international competitions.
Gukesh's calendar remains packed as he is set to fly to Germany for the Armageddon chess tournament, followed by the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Qatar Masters. He'll then proceed to the Isle of Man for the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2023, where two Candidates spots are available.
"The camp runs in two sessions -- in the morning and in the evening that runs till 7 pm. Then after dinner at 9 pm, he works with his personal trainer. It's like double the energy spent in a real game," added his father.
While the road ahead is challenging, the young chess prodigy remains steadfast. His rise signals a new era in Indian chess, one where the legacy of Viswanathan Anand finds its worthy successor.
(With inputs from PTI, powered by AI)
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The Rise of D Gukesh: 17-year-old chess prodigy dethrones Viswanathan Anand as India's top-ranked player
