D. Gukesh has marked his place as one of the most talked-about names in chess after achieving the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest World Chess Champion at just 18 years old.
The Indian Grandmaster triumphed over defending champion Ding Liren at the World Chess Championship, held recently, securing his status as the second Indian to claim this prestigious title. He follows the footsteps of his idol, Viswanathan Anand, who has won the championship five times.
Gukesh's path to the championship was paved by winning the Candidates Tournament, where he faced intense competition. The final showdown reached its climax during the fourteenth game, with Liren poised for potential tiebreakers until a surprising blunder on the 55th move turned the tide, leading to Liren's resignation and Gukesh's historic victory.
Following his championship win, Gukesh has returned to India for some needed downtime, choosing to skip the year-ending FIDE Rapid and Blitz Championship. Looking forward, he is set to make his comeback to competitive play next year with several exciting matches lined up.
Among Gukesh’s prestigious upcoming matches is one against the celebrated chess legend, Viswanathan Anand. The 2025 chess schedule features significant tournaments, kicking off with the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, which is scheduled from January 17 to February 2, 2025. This esteemed event will take place in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, and will showcase other top players such as Anish Giri, Arjun Erigaisi, and Fabiano Caruana.
Gukesh finished second in the previous edition of the Tata Steel tournament and is eager to claim the top spot this time. Following this, he will participate in the Germany leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour from February 7-14, where he will also face Anand and world number one Magnus Carlsen.
The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour consists of five tournaments hosted across various cities globally, allowing Gukesh the opportunity to take on some of the most formidable opponents, including Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Alireza Firouzja.
Another pivotal event for Gukesh is Norway Chess 2025, taking place from May 26 to June 6. Despite not participating last year, he’s confirmed to join this year, bringing him face-to-face with Carlsen, the defending champion, as well as Erigaisi.
This upcoming series of tournaments not only presents Gukesh with the chance to defend his prestigious title but also solidifies his position among the world’s chess elite. The chess community looks forward to witnessing how the youngest champion will fare against seasoned greats like Anand and Carlsen, promising exciting matches on the international stage.
