Indian teenage chess prodigy D Gukesh is on the brink of creating history as he prepares to face China’s Ding Liren at the 2024 World Chess Championship in Singapore from 25 November to 13 December. A win in this best-of-14 match series would make Gukesh, currently World No.5, only the second Indian to become a world champion, following the legendary Viswanathan Anand.
Early Start and Rapid Rise
Born in Chennai on 29 May 2006, Gukesh discovered chess at the age of seven and quickly developed a talent for the game. By nine, he had already claimed his first major victory in the Under-9 category of the Asian School Chess Championships, which earned him the title of FIDE Master. Just three years later, he achieved the International Master title, setting the stage for his next milestone.
In January 2019, Gukesh became the second-youngest player to earn the Grandmaster title, at 12 years, seven months, and 17 days. To reach this level, he competed in over 30 tournaments, playing 276 games across 13 countries. His versatility across classical, blitz, rapid, and team formats drew early recognition, marking him as a rising star in Indian chess.
Triumphs and Records along the way for D Gukesh
D Gukesh continued to impress on both national and international stages. He clinched the Under-12 World Youth Chess Championships, earned five gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess Championships, and delivered a standout performance at the 2022 Chess Olympiad, where his individual score of nine points in 11 matches won him gold and helped India secure the bronze.
In 2023, D Gukesh became the youngest player to cross an ELO rating of 2750, and his success continued to propel him up the rankings. In September 2023, he achieved another milestone by overtaking Viswanathan Anand to become India’s top-rated player, ending Anand’s 37-year reign at the top.
Securing His Spot: The Candidates Tournament
Gukesh qualified for the 2024 Candidates Tournament by finishing second in the 2023 FIDE Circuit standings, a rigorous competition spanning multiple international tournaments. His performance at the Candidates in Toronto in April 2024 was remarkable—he scored 9/14, becoming the youngest-ever challenger for the World Chess Championship title.
In September 2024, he capped his Olympiad career with nine wins out of ten matches, capturing the individual gold and helping India secure a historic team gold.
Preparing Mind and Body for Big Challenge ft D Gukesh
Off the board, Gukesh credits yoga and meditation with enhancing his focus and mental resilience. “I started taking mental health seriously. Started doing yoga and meditating. Once I started doing that, I made sure it was done regularly, and it made a difference,” he shared with British Chess Magazine in May.
D Gukesh vs Ding Liren: Head-to-Head
D Gukesh and Ding Liren have met five times in classical chess, with Liren winning twice and the remaining games ending in draws. Although Gukesh is yet to claim a classical victory over Liren, he did defeat him earlier this year in the Fischer Random format, which differs from the classical chess format to be used in Singapore.
Respectful of his opponent, Gukesh described Ding as “universal” in his style. “Ding is quite universal. Almost all the players at the top level have to be universal at this point. So, there are minute differences between all the players, and I’m trying my best to analyse them and use them to my advantage,” he said, while also emphasising his belief in showing up each day rather than relying on predictions.
As the countdown to this monumental match continues, fans and chess enthusiasts alike are eager to see if D Gukesh can make history and bring the world chess crown back to India.
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