Today I watched a young boy – who wasn’t even born in 2000 when I won my first world title – win a world championship. At just 18 years old, D. Gukesh is currently the 18th world champion, and if the future of chess has a face, it will likely be one that looks a lot like his: calm, sharp, and confident.
His win in the 14th round surprised me, but that was mainly because of its suddenness. I think everyone expected the final match to end in a draw. The position had not been lost yet, but suddenly Ding Liren made a mistake, and with a bang, the match was over. Everything unfolded unexpectedly, but Gukesh’s perseverance and determination to keep trying paid off, and chess rewarded him.
During his matches, Gukesh stuck to his plan, tried interesting ideas every day, and always showed that he was looking for a fight, even in the face of setbacks. He stayed true to his beliefs from start to finish and I loved his approach. He kept pushing and pushing and pushing, refusing to back down. Full respect to him and his entire team. We are also very happy to be able to support him through the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy. He moved the plan forward, overcame the challenges, and made it a success.
Din also proved himself to be a great champion. But today I felt like they wanted to finish the game somehow. He seemed in a hurry to get things done or change pieces, and he was punished for that.
that extra edge
But throughout the final 14 games, Ding showed great preparation and class. His victory in Game 12 was particularly impressive, showing his mental and physical readiness to peak at the right moment. But in the end, Gükesh had an added advantage – perhaps enough luck to tip the scales in his favor.
It was heartwarming to see Gukesh’s outburst of emotion after his win. We all have our own way of celebrating such moments. I’m sure I did something similar in my time. It was so nice to see his joy expressed so openly.
As for those questioning the credibility of this world championship, Gukesh will have to get used to it. Once you get to where he got to, you can’t just expect it to go one way. They will be constantly monitored. But the fact remains. He is the youngest world champion in history and that is a monumental achievement. He must now try to enjoy chess as much as possible. He has a lot ahead of him in life and should enjoy it all the way.
