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Toronto: On Monday, 17-year-old Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju scripted history by becoming the youngest man to win the prestigious Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 after an exciting final round in Toronto and earn the right to challenge for the World Championships crown later this year.
In Round 14, Gukesh used black pieces to hold rival championship contender Hikaru Nakamura to a draw and secure his victory. The teenager from India finished as the sole leader at the end of a gripping 14-round Candidates tournament in Toronto, Canada.
Gukesh will face Ding Liren, the reigning world champion, for the world title later in the year. With this victory, the 17-year-old is now the youngest player to go to the World Championship final, where he will take on Ding Liren of China. That was all Gukesh needed on the final day to secure the Candidates title, as the game between Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi ended in a thrilling draw.
Soon after the final match of the Candidates ended, loud cheers were heard in the Great Hall in Toronto, as the crowd rose to their feet and applauded the extraordinary achievement of the latest world title challenger. Gukesh won first place with a total of 9/14 points. He held Nakamura to a draw on a dramatic day, but his fate was sealed on the opposite board when Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi fought for 109 moves before settling on a tie.
Gukesh will have the opportunity to become the youngest world champion when he challenges Ding Liren later this year. Magnus Carlsen and Garry Kasparov were 22 when they became world champions. Gukesh also became the second Indian to win the Candidates chess after Viswanathan Anand and also the first Indian to emerge victorious after his mentor after a decade.
Mentor of Gukesh, the legendary Viswanathan Anand took to social media to congratulate the teenager for winning the Candidates. Anand posted on ‘X’ to congratulate the youngster, who like him, also hails from Chennai. Anand pointed out that Gukesh was able to handle tough situations throughout the tournament – a trait that was evident in his final round draw against the experienced Nakamura.
He said,”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.” Gukesh, who became a Grandmaster at the age of 12, is on a quest to create history.
Gukesh received a cash prize of 88,500 Euros (approximately Rs 78.5 lakh) out of the total prize fund of 500,000 Euros. The 17-year-old had surpassed his mentor to become the country’s top-ranked player in October 2023. His success in the Candidates confirms that the teenager has showcased his potential at the world level over the last few years.
