Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh, the youngest challenger to the World Chess Championship, has expressed satisfaction with his performance at the recently concluded Chess Olympiad. Gukesh played a pivotal role in India’s historic gold medal victory, scoring an impressive nine points out of 10 games.
“I approached the Olympiad as an individual event, focusing on performing well in this specific tournament,” Gukesh said. “I’m very happy with my performance and the team’s performance.”
Gukesh’s exceptional display on the top board earned him an individual gold medal. He attributed the team’s success to their positive mindset and hard work. “The result is proof that we were doing many things right and we were in the right spirit,” he said.
Now, Gukesh’s focus shifts to the World Championship clash against defending champion Ding Liren in November-December. The Indian prodigy became the youngest challenger to the world title at the age of 17 after winning the Candidates tournament in April.
“I’m quite happy with my form heading into the World Championship,” Gukesh said. “There are still a couple of months left, and I will work harder and be fully ready.”
Should Gukesh succeed, he would become the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand to claim the world chess crown. Anand won the title five times during his illustrious career.
Gukesh’s journey to the World Championship has been marked by remarkable achievements. He became the youngest Indian to achieve the Grandmaster title at the age of 12 and has consistently performed at the highest level.
The upcoming World Championship clash promises to be an exciting battle between two of the world’s top chess players. Gukesh’s determination and talent make him a formidable challenger, and his performance at the Chess Olympiad has further boosted his confidence.
