Gukesh becomes youngest to clinch Candidates tournament: Decoding career achievements
India's chess sensation D Gukesh clinched the FIDE Candidates 2024 tournament in Toronto. He held USA's Hikaru Nakamura to a draw in the final round to get the glory. Gukesh's triumph was indeed historic as he became the youngest winner of the Candidates tournament. The 17-year-old had entered the competition as the third-youngest player in the tournament history. Let's decode his career achievements.
Gukesh finishes at the top
Gukesh, who was with black pieces, added half-a-point to his tally with the draw against Nakamurato. He hence advanced atop the table with nine points. Gukesh's hopes then rested on the clash between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana, with a win for either one of them taking the tournament into a playoff. As the game ended in a draw, Gukesh emerged as the winner.
Gukesh joins Viswanathan Anand
Gukesh, 17, also became the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to qualify for a World Championship final in the classical format. While he became the youngest to clinch the Candidates tournament, the prodigy is overall the third-youngest to participate in the tournament. He is only behind Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen. Notably, Gukesh recorded five wins and a solitary defeat in the competition.
Gukesh ended Anand's 36-year-long stay at the top
Last year, Gukesh overtook the legendary Anand to become India's top-ranked chess player. The young Grandmaster went to the pinnacle position after defeating Azerbaijani Grandmaster Misratdin Iskandarov at the FIDE World Cup. Gukesh's feat was historic as Anand had been India's highest-ranked player since January 1987. Hence, his 36-year-long stay at the top came to an end.
Memorable triumph against Magnus Carlsen
Gukesh outfoxed five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in the 2022 Aimchess Rapid online tournament. The then 16-year-old became the youngest ever to beat Carlsen in his reign as a world champion. Gukesh (16 years, 4 months, and 20 days) broke the record of grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, who was aged 16 years, 6 months, and 10 days when he downed Carlsen.
Gukesh is India's youngest Grandmaster
Gukesh, who hails from Chennai, became India's youngest Grandmaster in January 2019. He achieved the feat at the age of 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days. Gukesh is currently the third-youngest to accomplish the title of Grandmaster. He is only behind America's Abhimanyu Mishra (12 years, 4 months, 25 days) and Russia's Sergey Karjakin (12 years, 7 months, 0 days).
Can Gukesh script history?
Gukesh's triumph in the Candidates tournament earned him the right to challenge for the World Championships crown later this year. The teenager from India will face Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren, the reigning world champion, for the world title. Notably, Gukesh can become the youngest world champion. He would displace Magnus Carlsen and Garry Kasparov, who were 22 when they became the world champions.
