The image of D Gukesh, smiling with outstretched hands after his big win, is one that India will cherish forever. He defeated Ding Liren from China to become the World Chess Champion in Singapore. This moment showed that India is now a real chess powerhouse, especially since the great Viswanathan Anand. Gukesh is just 18 years old and is the youngest world champion in chess history. His amazing journey started at the FIDE Candidates tournament in April, where he became the youngest winner ever, preparing for a championship match against 32-year-old Liren.
Going into the championship, Gukesh was seen as the favorite, which can be a lot of pressure. However, he secured victories in Games 3, 11, and 14, achieving something monumental. It wasn’t just Gukesh’s skill; he had the support of legends like Anand and his mental coach, Paddy Upton.
Celebrating Success at the Chess Olympiad
Before Gukesh’s win, India showcased its chess talent at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September, winning six gold medals in both team and individual events. The Indian men’s team defeated Slovenia, and the women’s team beat Azerbaijan. This made India one of the few countries to win both men’s and women’s golds in the same Olympiad. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agarwal also took home individual gold medals.
Siblings Shine Together
In Chennai, two siblings, R Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali, have become famous Grandmasters. They reached impressive ratings and made history by being the first siblings to compete in the Candidates tournament. Praggnanandhaa even managed to beat Magnus Carlsen, the top player in the world, in a Classical match, which is a huge deal!
Important Milestones for Erigaisi and Divya
Erigaisi became the second Indian ever to cross the 2800 Elo rating, after Anand, and is currently the fourth-ranked player worldwide. Divya also made headlines by surpassing the 2500 Elo rating mark, joining a very exclusive group of Grandmasters.
Youthful Talent Growing in India
India’s success isn’t just from a few players. The real magic is in the growing number of kids interested in chess. With stars like Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa to look up to, many young players now believe they can achieve great things too. DP Anantha from the All India Chess Federation says that this growing talent pool is what makes India a strong chess nation.
Looking Ahead to 2025
India is currently ranked fourth in FIDE’s team rankings with 64 Grandmasters. Many of the young players will participate in upcoming tournaments like the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour and the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Georgia. So, get ready for more exciting chess coming our way!
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