The Inspiring Story of Gukesh D
In 2024, Gukesh D achieved an extraordinary milestone by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion. At just 18 years old, he triumphed in the 2024 World Chess Championship after defeating Ding Liren, the reigning champion from China, in a thrilling 14-game match. Gukesh’s victory not only marked the youngest-ever win in World Chess Championship history, but also solidified his place among the chess elite.
Gukesh’s triumph in the 2024 World Chess Championship follows his remarkable win at the Candidates Tournament, where he became the youngest player ever to qualify for a World Chess Championship match. This victory over Ding Liren with a score of 7.5-6.5 in the final round was a defining moment in his career, highlighting his tactical brilliance, resilience, and maturity at a young age.
Gukesh D is also the youngest player to surpass a 2700 Elo rating, reaching 2750 and breaking multiple records along the way. He is the third-youngest Grandmaster in history, and the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the prestigious Candidates Tournament and qualify for a World Chess Championship.
Origins – the journey of Gukesh in chess
Gukesh D was born on 29 may, 2006 in Chennai to the proud parents Dr. Rajnikant and Dr padma. His father was an eye, throat and nose surgeon and mother was a microbiologist. From the beginning only he was having very keen interest in chess which was firstly noticed by his school coach Mr. Bhaskar who introduced him and taught him how to play chess. He is the reason behind Gukesh’s first FIDE rating of 1291 after 6 months of training only.
Gukesh attended the Velammal Vidhyalaya, Mel Ayannambakam school. This group of schools all across Chennai has produced young talents like Grandmaster Kartikeyan, Grandmaster Arvind Chitambaram and the more famous one Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa.
His parents were the most important pillars behind his success. They constantly support him to achieve his goals as it was confirmed by chess prodigy only that his father left his job for him and travels everywhere with him for his tournaments. Also his social media handles , invitations, travels etc all are managed by his father. He stated in an interview that his mother was a great supporter to him, she always uplifts him emotionally with each and every ups and downs and stands like a rock with him.
Around this time, Gukesh had already seen his friend Nihal Sarin and later city mate Praggnandha become grandmaster and he surely didn’t want to be left behind.
Achievements
2015:-
He won the chess championship in under – 9 section
2017:-
In march of this year he completed all the requirements for the title International chess master at 34th Cappelle La Grande open. Few weeks before this achievement, he started his training under the Grandmaster Vishnu Prasanna and as a result won his first international chess master norm in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2018:-
In november, he was crowned as the world under – 12 champion in Galicia, Spain with a huge success of score 10/11. After some tournaments he managed to get the grandmaster title at orbis 2 grandmaster round robin event in Parcin, Serbia with the score 7.5/9 while getting the rating point 21 and become the world’s third youngest chess grandmaster.
In 2018, he won 5 gold medals in asian youth championship, Under – 12 individual rapid and blitz, Under – 12 team rapid and blitz and Under – 12 individual classic formats.
2021:-
The young master won the Julius Baer Challengers chess tour with a score of 14/19 points.
2022:-
In august of this year he made the proud moment for India by defeating the number 1 rank United States in the 44th chess olympiad with a score of 8/8. After a few months of this in September, He reached the FIDE rating of 2700 for the first time which made him the third youngest player to reach this score after Wei Yi and Alireza Firouzja.
Creating history in october, he became the youngest player to beat Magnus Carlsen, world’s number 1 player.
2023:-
In the month of february he participated in the first edition of WR master tournaments in Dusseldorf where he achieved the second position after Livon Aronian. After a few months Gukesh became the youngest player ever to reach the highest FIDE rating above 2700 that is 2750. After which he participated in the chess world cup and reached the quarter finals as he was defeated by Magnus Carlsen.
Month of September in this year was also very remarkable for Gukesh as he leaves the master player of India Vishwanathan Anand behind which was marked as the first time in 37 years that someone has surpassed the master Anand.
2024:-
He participated in candidates tournaments which were held in the month of april. Gukesh won the game against his countrymen Rameshbabu Pragganandha and Vidit Gujrathi.
Gukesh’s loss was only with white against Alireza Firouzja . Later he managed to get the score of 9/14 winning the tournament which resulted in qualifying for the 2024 world chess championship match against Ding Liren.
Another history was created by a young grandmaster by becoming the youngest winner of a chess candidate tournament and the youngest player to qualify in the world chess championship.
Conclusion
Gukesh D spent countless hours working on his chess strategies and gaining more and more knowledge related to chess which resulted in the boost in his rating from 1291 to 2750 also with his consistency and constant dedication he acquired the position of youngest player to reach the world chess championship. He is the best motivation to youth of this generation that one can achieve anything in their life just by dedication, belief and having faith in yourself.
Even Parents’ support is one of the most important pillars in the building of success just like Gukesh’s parents who sacrifices everything for his success and always motivates him to achieve his goals no matter what the situation is.