Domaraj Gukeshx is engrossed in the chess board
Not yet 18. Domaraj Gukesh from Chennai, Tamil Nadu has made a big success at a young age. He won the Candidates Tournament as the youngest chess player. Organized by the International Chess Federation, this tournament is mainly to determine the challenger of the reigning world champion. The champion of the candidate tournament challenges the reigning world champion for the title of world champion.
Gukesh, who became a grandmaster at the age of 12 years, 7 months and 17 days, will fight to become the world champion at the end of this year against the current champion, Ding Liren of China. The venue and schedule of the fight are yet to be decided. Gukesh is the youngest chess player to challenge to become the world champion.
Only one Indian chess player has won the Candidates Tournament before—Viswanathan Anand. Five-time world champion Anand won the Candidates tournament in 2014. Gukesh became the champion with 9 points out of 14 possible points.
After such a feat, the world’s third youngest grandmaster Gukesh received congratulations from former candidate champion Anand. In a message on X, Anand wrote, ‘Congratulations to Gukesh for becoming the youngest challenger. The WACA Chess (Westbridge Ananda Chess Academy) family is proud of your achievements. The way you played and handled tough situations, I am personally proud of you. Enjoy the moment.’
GukeshX congratulated Viswanathan Anand after making history
Son of nose, ear and throat doctor father and microbiologist mother, Gukesh started chess at the age of 7. On May 29, 2006, Gukesh won his first chess title within 2 years of his debut. Won U-9 Asian School Chess Championship in 2015. After 3 years in 2018, he won the gold medal in the under-12 category at the World Youth Chess Championship. And in 2022, he won a silver medal for India at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Gukesh achieved another feat in 2022. He defeated Magnus Carlsen as the youngest chess player. Carlsen later became world champion.