D Gukesh wins 2024 FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament

Gukesh is only the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to win the Candidates Tournament and earn the right to challenge the reigning World Champion. He has become the youngest challenger ever for the World Chess Championship, surpassing the record set by Garry Kasparov in 1984.

Gukesh’s Performance in the Candidates Tournament

• Gukesh scored 9 out of a possible 14 points in the double round-robin tournament featuring eight players.
• He clinched the title by drawing his final round game against American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura.
• The teenage prodigy had to wait for the result of the game between Fabiano Caruana (USA) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE) to confirm his outright victory.
• Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi, and Caruana tied for second place with 8.5 points each.

Upcoming World Chess Championship Match

• By winning the Candidates Tournament, Gukesh has earned the right to challenge the current World Chess Champion, Ding Liren of China.
• The dates and venue for the World Championship match are yet to be confirmed.
• This will be Gukesh’s first appearance in a World Championship match, while Ding Liren will be defending his title for the first time.

Gukesh’s Chess Career Highlights

• Gukesh became the third-youngest player in history to earn the Grandmaster title at the age of 12.
• He won a silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
• The young prodigy has consistently shown remarkable progress and has now established himself as a top contender in the world of chess.

Other Indian Performances

• R Praggnanandhaa, another young Indian Grandmaster, finished fifth in the Candidates Tournament with 7 points.
• In the Women’s Candidates Tournament, Indian players Koneru Humpy and R Vaishali tied for second place with 7.5 points each, along with Lei Tingjie of China.
• The winner of the Women’s Candidates Tournament, Tan Zhongyi of China, will challenge the current Women’s World Champion, Ju Wenjun, also from China.

About World Chess Championship

• Annual competition to determine the world champion in chess
• Organized by the World Chess Federation (FIDE)
• First official world championship held in 1886
• Notable champions: Wilhelm Steinitz, Jose Raul Capablanca, Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand, Magnus Carlsen
• Current format: Candidates Tournament winner challenges reigning champion in a 12-game match
• Youngest world champion: Garry Kasparov (22 years old in 1985)
• Viswanathan Anand: First Indian world champion (2000-2002, 2007-2013)

Gukesh’s historic victory in the Candidates Tournament marks a significant milestone for Indian chess and showcases the immense potential of the country’s young chess prodigies.