Seventeen-year-old Indian chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, known as Gukesh D, has made headlines by becoming the youngest player to win the men's Candidates Tournament in Toronto, Canada. This remarkable victory has set the stage for Gukesh to potentially challenge reigning world champion Ding Liren of China at the upcoming 2024 World Chess Championship.
If Gukesh manages to defeat Ding, he will break the long-standing record set by Garry Kasparov as the youngest world champion at the age of 22. Currently ranked 16th in the world by FIDE, Gukesh secured his title with a draw against world number 3 Hikaru Nakamura, who is more than twice his age.
Expressing his emotions after the game, Gukesh stated, 'I don't really care about [being] the youngest and all these records, but it's a nice thing to say.' The young grandmaster is now gearing up to challenge for the world chess title, making him the youngest player ever to do so.
Gukesh's victory has been met with widespread celebration in India, with fans gathering outside his hotel to show their support. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to social media to commend Gukesh for his extraordinary talent and dedication.
The upcoming World Chess Championship match between Gukesh and Ding is highly anticipated, especially given Ding's recent struggles with form. The exact date and location of the championship have yet to be announced.
India's chess talent pool continues to impress, with players like Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who famously defeated Magnus Carlsen in 2022, making their mark on the international chess scene. Gukesh's success follows in the footsteps of legendary Indian player Viswanathan Anand, who has been a dominant force in chess for decades.
As Gukesh prepares for the World Chess Championship, the chess world eagerly awaits the showdown between the young Indian prodigy and the reigning world champion, Ding Liren.
