The 17-year-old prodigy from India, D Gukesh, made history on Monday by winning the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 in Toronto. He now holds the distinction of being just the second Indian player to accomplish this goal, after the well-known Viswanathan Anand. In the last round, Gukesh defeated competitor Hikaru Nakamura by using the black pieces, and the outcome was a draw in Round 14.
This triumph propels Gukesh into the record books as the youngest contender to advance to the World Championship final, where he will face off against China’s Ding Liren. His stellar performance throughout the tournament earned him the top spot with an impressive tally of 9/14 points. While his fate hung in balance during the dramatic final round, Gukesh’s destiny was ultimately sealed on another board where Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi engaged in an intense battle lasting 109 moves before settling for a draw.
The day was replete with suspense and excitement. Initially, there were hopes of Gukesh claiming victory when Fabiano Caruana made a crucial error in move 41, offering a chance for a draw against Ian Nepomniachtchi. However, the tables turned when Nepomniachtchi reciprocated the mistake, ultimately leading to a deadlock in their match.
Following Gukesh’s draw against Hikaru Nakamura, the FIDE Candidates’ tournament witnessed a dramatic shift. Yet, it was Fabiano Caruana’s pivotal blunder in his encounter with Ian Nepomniachtchi that provided a glimmer of hope for Gukesh’s historic triumph. This error significantly altered the course of the game and paved the way for a potential draw, highlighting the intensity and unpredictability of elite chess competitions.