In the illustrious history of chess, few have ascended the ranks as rapidly and decisively as India’s teenage grandmaster, Dommaraju Gukesh. At just 18 years old, Gukesh has already etched his name in the record books multiple times over. Now, he stands on the brink of his greatest achievement yet – becoming the youngest World Chess Champion ever.
A Prodigy’s Early Promise
Gukesh’s tryst with destiny began early. At the tender age of 7, he accompanied his father to watch the 2013 World Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen. Little did anyone know that the wide-eyed boy in the audience would himself be competing for the same title just over a decade later.
Gukesh’s rise was meteoric. He became India’s youngest grandmaster at 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days. Worldwide, only Sergey Karjakin and Gukesh’s contemporary R Praggnanandhaa achieved the feat at a younger age. The records kept tumbling as Gukesh hit one rating milestone after another in his early teens.
Dominance in the Junior Circuit
Before making his mark on the elite circuit, Gukesh had already established himself as a force in junior chess. Multiple gold medals at the World Youth Championships and Asian Youth Championships underlined his prodigious talent. His aggressive, ambitious style, modeled on his idol Carlsen, overwhelmed opponents.
That guy had to be dragged out of his system or chess book or board to make him even eat or sleep when he started.
– Rajnikanth, Gukesh’s father, on his son’s early obsession with chess
Forged in the Fires of Chennai
Gukesh’s meteoric rise is a product of the thriving chess culture in his hometown of Chennai, India’s chess capital. At Velammal Vidyalaya school, alma mater to 16 grandmasters, chess takes precedence even over academics for the most talented. This atmosphere allowed Gukesh to blossom into a ferocious student of the game.
- Chennai has produced 16 chess grandmasters
- Gukesh’s school allowed chess talent to prioritize the game over studies
- R Praggnanandhaa and his sister R Vaishali also studied at Velammal Vidyalaya
The Evolution of Gukesh’s Style
As Gukesh progressed to tougher competitions, he refined his style. Carlsen had once pointed out that while Gukesh had a special spark, he needed more solidity to sustain his level against the very best. Gukesh took this advice to heart. Today, his game is a potent blend of aggression, ambition and a rock-solid foundation.
Gukesh has developed the ability to be solid in the last couple of years. It’s important to also find ways off the beaten path in modern chess.
– GM Srinath Narayanan, coach of India’s gold medal winning team at the 2024 Chess Olympiad
Conquering the Olympiad and the Candidates
The 2022 Chess Olympiad on home soil in Chennai proved bittersweet for Gukesh. His 8 wins in the first 8 rounds propelled India into the lead, but a tense finish saw them settle for bronze. Gukesh’s individual gold was scant consolation. However, it lit a fire in him that would power his rise in the coming year.
2023 saw Gukesh hit one peak after another. He became the youngest ever to breach the 2750 rating mark. By the end of the year, his performances earned him a spot in the 2024 Candidates Tournament. There, despite being the lowest seed, he stunned the field with a commanding win, losing just 1 out of 14 games.
The March to the World Title
Gukesh’s record-breaking run culminated in the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Leading India to a historic gold, Gukesh defended his individual crown with 9 wins in 10 games and a stratospheric performance rating of 3056. It was the perfect statement of intent ahead of his World Championship bout against China’s Ding Liren.
Former World Champion Viswanathan Anand, who has mentored Gukesh, believes his greatest strength is his composure. According to Anand, Gukesh’s ability to stay calm and seize his chances made the difference in the Candidates. That tenacity will be tested to its limit against the battle-hardened Ding.
From the time I was a little kid, I thought it would really cool to be up there [as world champion]. Now I have the opportunity and I am grateful for it.
– D Gukesh on his world title ambitions
In Ding Liren, Gukesh faces his sternest challenge yet. The Chinese world no. 1 is a master of seizing the initiative. For Gukesh to dethrone the reigning king, he will likely need to outlast Ding and induce errors in tense positions. If his track-record is any indication, the young Indian can play the waiting game to perfection.
Over the course of nearly three weeks in Singapore, Gukesh will have the chance to write a glorious new chapter in India’s storied chess history. Victory would etch his name forever in chess folklore. At just 18, the boy who once watched his idol Anand fight for the title now has the chance to capture the crown himself.
A nation of 1.4 billion awaits with bated breath. For in Gukesh, they see shades of the inimitable Anand and the promise of a new king. As the first moves are played on the board, an ancient battle resumes – the young challenger taking on the old master. The chess world has seen this story before. But never has the challenger been this young or carried the hopes of so many.
