Exciting Era for Chess in India: Grandmaster Gukesh D Celebrates Historic Candidates Win

India’s Grandmaster Gukesh D has made history by becoming the youngest player in the world to win the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 champion. His victory has earned him a place in the world championship final, where he is set to take on China’s Ding Liren. In an interview with NDTV, Gukesh revealed that he faced significant mental challenges during the tournament but managed to handle the pressure well to secure the win.

Gukesh expressed his excitement and determination to win the world championship, stating that it has always been a dream of his. He also spoke about the growing popularity of chess in India, attributing its rise to Viswanathan Anand and the increased interest in chess, especially after the pandemic. Looking ahead to his upcoming final match, Gukesh acknowledged the strength of his opponent, Ling, and emphasized his commitment to giving his best and playing good chess throughout the match.

His victory in the Candidates Tournament also earns him the distinction of being the second Indian player to achieve this feat after Viswanathan Anand’s triumph in 2014.