D Gukesh leads India to victory in Chess Olympiad
Grand Master D Gukesh further established his success in the world of chess with an impressive performance at the 2024 Chess Olympiad. Gukesh led India to a magnificent gold medal in the competition, the nation’s inaugural win in the significant event held every two years. Gukesh achieved victory in 9 out of 10 games in his impressive performance, securing the individual gold medal on Board 1.
Gukesh showcased remarkable skill and maturity, characteristics that have stood out in his early career. In round eight, Gukesh used the Dubov variation in a Queen pawn game to beat Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo playing with the black pieces.
Gukesh’s victories boosted his live rating to 2785, placing him within striking distance of the highly sought-after 2800 rating milestone. This accomplishment is especially impressive considering his age; achieving a rating above 2800 would make him the second Indian, following Viswanathan Anand, and the 16th player overall in chess history to achieve this milestone.
The Indian Grand Master will face Ding Liren in World Championship
The Indian Grand Master has been gradually improving his performance leading up to the World Championship Final against Ding Liren. Gukesh, who is scheduled to compete against the Chinese star, is already being seen as the favorite by a lot of people in the chess community.
In 2022, Gukesh’s ascent was foreseen after excelling in India’s Chess Olympiad bronze medal win in Chennai. Gukesh, on the other hand, had given an outstanding first performance that ultimately earned him the Player of the Year award in 2022.
During the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, in 2022, Grandmaster D. Gukesh made a remarkable debut performance that will go down in history as one of the most sensational.
At the young age of 16, Gukesh contributed greatly to the tournament as a member of the India B team. He began the Olympiad with an exceptional 8/8 score, a accomplishment that received praise from many.
Also read: Chess Olympiad 2024: India creates history by winning double Gold
Gukesh’s win against Fabiano Caruana, a previous World Championship Challenger with a rating of 2783 at that moment, stood out. With the black pieces, Gukesh outperformed and ultimately checkmated Caruana, achieving an impressive 3366 performance rating in that game.
Gukesh following in the footsteps of legendary Viswanathan Anand
Gukesh’s win marks a personal milestone and a notable accomplishment for Indian chess, continuing the legacy of the iconic Viswanathan Anand. His exhibition has been praised as proof of the rising prowess of Indian chess players, which has been supported by greater visibility and live streaming of chess tournaments, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis.
In the upcoming 2024 World Chess Championship match, Gukesh will be up against the current World Champion, Ding Liren, making it the first time in history with no European player in the match. This chess game is expected to be a crucial event in the history of the game, where Gukesh’s young vitality and drive will face off against the expertise and talent of the reigning world champion.
