Emil Sutovsky, the CEO of FIDE, the global governing body of chess, shared on social media that the 17-year-old chess player from Chennai had emerged victorious in the Candidates tournament in Toronto. This prestigious eight-player event is held to select the challenger to the world champion, although the venue for the contest is still to be confirmed. Gukesh defeated well-known chess players Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and Ian Nepomniachtchi to win the Candidates tournament.
Despite the experience of his opponents, Gukesh was able to maintain his lead in the tournament and secure his victory. In the final round, he only needed a draw against Nakamura to secure his win, with Caruana and Nepomniachtchi just half a point behind him. Gukesh, who became India’s youngest grandmaster at a very young age, added another milestone to his impressive career by becoming the youngest ever Candidates winner.
Having previously overtaken Viswanathan Anand as India’s top-ranked player, Gukesh is now set to become the youngest contestant in the World Chess Championship. This accomplishment solidifies his position as a rising star in the world of chess.