Newly crowned world chess champion D Gukesh began his reign in heart-stopping fashion, pulling off a stunning last-gasp victory over Anish Giri in Round 1 of the prestigious Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee. The 18-year-old Indian phenom, fresh off receiving his nation’s highest sporting honor, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, made a dramatic statement in his first elite event since capturing the global chess throne.
Gukesh Survives Roller Coaster Ride
Gukesh, playing with the white pieces, opted for a closed Catalan opening but soon found himself in time trouble and staring down the barrel of defeat. A series of mutual inaccuracies led to wild swings, with Giri gaining a clear upper hand after Gukesh’s 24th move blunder. But the Dutchman failed to press home the advantage, giving the young world champ a glimmer of hope.
With the clock ticking down and disaster looming, Gukesh made a grievous error on move 33, seemingly handing Giri the full point. However, in a stunning twist of fate, Giri buckled under the intense time pressure, missing a winning move and committing a catastrophic mistake of his own on move 35. Gukesh pounced, sparking a queen exchange that completely turned the tables and sealed Giri’s fate. After the 40th move time control, the deflated Dutchman could only resign in the face of Gukesh’s unstoppable attack.
A Champion’s Mettle
The heart-pounding finish showcased Gukesh’s incredible fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude. Even in the most hopeless of positions, the teenage sensation found a way to stay alive and capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes. It’s this mental toughness and resilience under pressure that has made Gukesh a world champion at such a tender age.
“I’ve been living this moment since I was 6,” an elated Gukesh said after his epic triumph, referring to his childhood dream of becoming chess world champion.
The win also served notice to the rest of the star-studded field that Gukesh will be a force to reckon with in this grueling 13-round event. Despite his youth and relative inexperience at the super-elite level, the Indian wunderkind has proven time and again that he belongs among the game’s all-time greats.
Mixed Fortunes for Indian Contingent
Elsewhere, it was an up-and-down day for the sizable Indian contingent in Wijk Aan Zee. Rising star R Praggnanandhaa held his own against the higher-ranked Nodirbek Abdusattorov, escaping from a dicey position to secure a hard-fought draw. Young gun Arjun Erigaisi found himself in a complicated battle against Gukesh’s seconds teammate Pentala Harikrishna, with both players still seeking a decisive result at the time of this writing.
On the other hand, 18-year-old Leon Mendonca of Goa suffered a tough loss with the white pieces against another Gukesh mentor, German grandmaster Vincent Keymer. Despite playing accurately for much of the contest, Mendonca couldn’t quite convert his advantageous position into a full point.
Big Guns Settle for Draws
The tournament’s top seed, American world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana, couldn’t make much headway against China’s Wei Yi, with their game ending in a relatively quiet draw. Caruana will be looking to make a strong push in the coming rounds to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking he briefly held in 2024.
As play continues in the picturesque Dutch coastal town, all eyes will remain on Gukesh to see if he can maintain his winning start and further cement his status as the new king of chess. But with a host of hungry young challengers and wily veterans eager to take him down, the teenage titan will need to summon all his skill, stamina, and mental fortitude to emerge victorious in this battle of the game’s brightest minds.
