India’s 17-year-old Grandmaster D Gukesh scripted historical past by successful the Candidates Chess Tournament right here to develop into the youngest ever challenger to the world title, bettering a document created by the legendary Garry Kasparov 40 years in the past. Gukesh performed out a straightforward draw with American Hikaru Nakamura within the 14th and last spherical to complete with 9 out of a potential 14 factors within the match that’s held to determine the challenger to the world champion. India’s cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar congratulated the teenager for his achievement on social media.
The triumph entitles Gukesh a conflict in opposition to reigning world champion Ding Liren of China within the final quarter of the yr. The Chennai-based teen bettered Kasparov’s document by fairly a distance because the Russian nice was 22 when he certified in 1984 to conflict with compatriot Anatoly Karpov. (Who Is D Gukesh? Youngest-Ever Contender At World Chess Championship Final After Winning FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024)
“So relieved and so happy. I was following this crazy game (between Fabio Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi), and then I went for a walk with my second (Gregorz Gazevsky), I think that helped,” Gukesh mentioned after successful.
Gukesh additionally received a money award of 88,500 Euros (approx Rs 78.5 lakh). The whole prize fund of the Candidates was 5,00,000 Euros. He grew to become solely the second Indian after the good Viswanathan Anand to win the distinguished match. Five-time world champion Anand’s triumph got here in 2014.
“Congratulations to @DGukesh for becoming the youngest challenger. The @WacaChess 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,” Anand posted on ‘X’ to congratulate the teenager, who like him, additionally hails from Chennai.
Needing no less than a draw, Gukesh gave nothing away to Nakamura, a transparent sign that {the teenager} is prepared for the massive stage and goes to be the subsequent greatest star within the chess world.
The black items didn’t matter a lot as Nakamura was at sea within the Queen’s Gambit Accepted and didn’t discover any methods to pursue enjoying for a bonus. Gukesh received a pawn and Nakamura needed to discover the trail to equality within the ensuing rook and reverse colored Bishops endgame. The sport lasted until transfer 71 however the consequence was by no means doubtful.
With Gukesh ending on 9 factors, all eyes have been on the match between American Caruana and Russia’s Nepomniachtchi.
“…Those 15 minutes were probably the most stressful of this entire tournament, I was watching the commentary for sometime and then me and Gajevsky (his trainer) went for a walk and then my father came running,” Gukesh revealed.
“Obviously the support system is huge, coming to my team I would not like to take their names but they know how grateful I am to them,” he mentioned.
The American outplayed Nepomniachtchi proper from the opening and loved a virtually successful place for a number of strikes. However, the clock did the speaking right here as Caruana blundered on thirty ninth transfer to permit a playable place.
Things have been removed from over although, Caruana constructed his place over again and was near successful a second time when once more his clock deceived him and he failed to seek out the proper continuation. The ensuing place was a drawn queen and pawns endgame the place Caruana saved urgent to no avail.
Had any of those two gamers received, the match would have wanted a tie-break as Gukesh and the winner would have ended up in joint lead. Caruana, Nepomniachtchi and Nakamura all ended on an equivalent 8.5 factors for the shared second place whereas Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa ended fifth on seven factors defeating Nijat Abasov of Azerbaijan.
Vidit Gujrathi performed out a fast draw with Firouzja Alireza of France within the last spherical to finish on the sixth spot with six factors in all. Alireza completed seventh on 5 factors whereas Abasov ended final on 3.5 factors in all.
Gukesh has been making waves for some time now after changing into the third youngest in chess historical past to earn the Grandmaster title on the age of 12. He later grew to become the youngest to realize an ELO ranking of 2750.
The teenager’s father Rajnikanth, who’s an ENT surgeon however has stopped his apply to nurture Gukesh’s chess goals, accompanied him to the match. His mom Padma is a microbiologist.
Last yr, Gukesh received a silver medal on the Hangzhou Asian Games. The dates and venue for the world championship are but to be finalised.
“I haven’t really thought about it a lot I just got to know the result, the main strategy will be to play good moves. Really look forward to all the preparation and being there,” Gukesh mentioned.
Results last spherical (Indians except specified):
Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 8.5) drew with D Gukesh (9); Fabiano Caruana (USA, 8.5) drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE, 8.5); Nijat Abasov (Aze, 3.5) misplaced to R Praggnanandhaa (7); Firouza Alireza (Fra, 5) drew with Vidit Gujrathi (6). Final standings: 1. D Gukesh 2-4: Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi, Caruana 5. Pragnanandhaa 6. Gujrathi 7. Alireza 8. Abasov.
