The 17-year-old from Chennai, Gukesh, has just won the prestigious Candidates tournament in Toronto and is set to become the youngest ever contender at the upcoming World Chess Championship. Despite facing established players like Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and Ian Nepomniachtchi, Gukesh emerged victorious in his debut at the event.
Gukesh took the lead with one round to go, just ahead of Nakamura, Caruana, and Nepomniachtchi. In order to secure the win, he needed a draw in his final game as long as the game between Caruana and Nepomniachtchi also ended in a draw. And that’s exactly what happened – Gukesh’s win makes him the youngest ever Candidates winner.
As India’s youngest ever grandmaster at the age of 12, Gukesh has already made history in the world of chess. With his victory in the Candidates tournament, he has solidified his position as a rising star in the game and will soon have the opportunity to compete for the World Chess Championship title.