The youngest challenger for the World Championship title D. Gukesh addresses a press convention after successful the Candidates Chess match, in Toronto on April 22, 2024. Photo: X/@FIDE_chess
For most athletes victory is normally the most important motivator however not for history-making teen Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh, who stated he received the “energy” to develop into the youngest Candidates chess champion thanks to his seventh-round loss to Iran’s Firouzja Alireza.
The 17-year-old from Chennai, whose father is an ENT surgeon and mom a microbiologist, drew his 14th and remaining spherical recreation towards American Hikaru Nakamura to win the celebrated match and develop into the youngest challenger for the world championship title.
He will tackle China’s Ding Liren in that match later this yr.
“I was feeling really good from the start but after my seventh round loss against Alireza, I was really upset. It was a painful loss. But the next day I had a rest day and was feeling my absolute best,” Gukesh instructed PTI movies in a zoom interview from Toronto.
“The loss kind of provided me with the energy and motivation. After the loss I really felt that if I continue doing the right thing, and I am in the right mental state then I can really go for the wins,” he added.
Gukesh grew to become solely the second Indian after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand to win the Candidates. In the method, he bettered a 40-year-old document by the good Garry Kasparov, who grew to become the youngest to problem for the world title in 1984 on the age of twenty-two.
Reflecting on how the match went for him, the world’s third youngest Grandmaster stated, “The focus from the beginning of the tournament was to trust the process, to be in the right mindset and play the right chess.
“I believe all through the match, I managed to try this properly and contemplate myself lucky sufficient to have the outcomes go my approach.” On how he felt after winning the title and becoming the youngest challenger for World Championship title, Gukesh said “It was an exquisite second, I used to be so joyful and relieved to have formally made it. I used to be simply tremendous joyful.” The Indian needed the last game between Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and top-seeded American Fabiano Caruana to end in a draw and this is exactly how things panned out.
Had any of these two players won, the tournament would have needed a tie-break as Gukesh and the winner would have ended up in joint lead.
“I used to be attempting to put together for the tie-break, Me and my coach had been discussing for the tie-break beforehand however quickly after we began discussing we received to know that there might be no want for it,” Gukesh said.
On what will be his plan for the world title match, the dates and venue for which are yet to be decided, he said: “I didn’t have a lot time to take into consideration the World Championship remaining after successful the (Candidates) match.
“I am really looking forward to the build up and the work we will put in for the match and really looking forward to play the match.” For now, the teen is eager on a while off and can also be satisfied about getting a congratulatory message from Viswanathan Anand.
“He congratulated me, I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet but hopefully will catch up soon with him,” he stated.
“I spoke to my parents, they are really happy and glad. I spent some nice time with my trainer and my sponsor and some of my friends. There are a lot of messages, I am looking forward to reply to them and talk to my friends.” On what might be his speedy plan earlier than the World Championship match, he stated, “I am going to relax for a few days now, It has been really stressful for the last three weeks.
“I’ll cool off for someday after which will take into consideration the World Championship match on how I’ll plan to take issues ahead.
“The general plan is clear that I focus on playing good chess and try to be at my absolute best.”
