In a stunning turn of events, 17-year-old Gukesh from Chennai emerged as the winner of the prestigious Candidates tournament held in Toronto. The tournament aimed to select the challenger to the world champion and saw established players like Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and Ian Nepomniachtchi competing against him. Despite their experience and success, Gukesh emerged victorious in his debut at the event, securing his place as the youngest ever winner.
With one round to go, Gukesh took the lead over his opponents. He only needed a draw in his final game to secure the win, as long as Caruana and Nepomniachtchi’s game also ended in a draw. Gukesh’s victory makes him India’s youngest ever grandmaster at just 12 years old and sets him up for a chance to compete for the World Chess Championship title.
Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), shared exciting news on social media about Gukesh’s win. Sutovsky praised Gukesh for his impressive performance and highlighted his young age as a testament to his talent and potential.
Gukesh has been making waves in the world of chess since he was just six years old. He won several national titles before earning recognition on an international stage with his Grandmaster title at age 12. Now, with his victory in the Candidates tournament, he is set to become India’s youngest contender at the upcoming World Chess Championship.
As Sutovsky announced on social media, there is still no venue confirmed for the upcoming contest that will determine who will challenge reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen for his title.
Overall, Gukesh’s victory is a historic moment for both Indian chess and global chess community as it marks the beginning of new era with young stars like him leading from front.
