Press Trust of India

Gukesh: The Triumph

RuyLopez1000

31 Aug 2025426 viewsEnglish (US)

Chess Analysis Strategy Over the board Chess Personalities

Relive Gukesh's Journey to Chess's Highest Peak

2024 Candidates Tournament

Gukesh qualified for the 2024 Candidates through the 2023 FIDE Circuit.

Gukesh started off by defeating Pragg in Round 2.

He beat Abasov, but then lost to Firouzja in Round 7. He bounced back with a win against Vidit in the next round.

He defeated Abasov again and beat Firouzja back to back in rounds 12 and 13.

In the final round he drew against Nakamura. Caruana and Nepomniachtchi failed to beat each other. This secured Gukesh's spot as World Champion Challenger against Ding Liren.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwZhnpOg2HQ

https://lichess.org/study/A5Jdubkh/icUYIl7X#22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwpF-zWi0Kw

"Right now I'm just so relieved and so happy. I was following this crazy game [Caruana-Nepomniachtchi] and I was completely emotional but now after the game finished I'm feeling quite good."
-Gukesh after winning the Candidates, If Caruana or Nepomniachtchi won the game there would have been a tiebreaker match with Gukesh.

"People might think it's like a swaggy thing to do but sometimes it just gets a bit uncomfortable around my neck so I just correct it"
-Gukesh on his famous pose after being asked by Sagar Shah (as seen in the thumbnail)

2024 World Championship

Gukesh lost a tough first game to Ding.
https://youtu.be/GGa1cSZIls0?t=16816

"The toughest challenge in the match was losing the first game. I knew it could happen...I was prepared for it. No matter how much you prepare for it -- it was humiliating. It was tough. After the game, there was a nice moment with Vishy sir, who was also in the lift. He told me that 'I had 11 games. You have 13'. It was a nice reminder that it's just one game and there's a long way to go. I needed some mental toughness at that moment,"

Gukesh bounced back in Round 3, defeating Ding.

He got a lead by beating Ding in Round 11, but Ding fought back in Round 12 to even the score.

I think six all is overall a fair result but yeah since I was leading after yesterday it's a bit disappointing to lose this game and about whether it'll change my mindset for the next two games, no I don't think so, it's about playing good chess. Right now I'm a bit disappointed with the game but I have time to recover and start playing well.
Gukesh after game 12

In the final round, everyone assumed that the match would go to tiebreak as the position was drawn. But Ding blundered in the endgame and Gukesh defeated him, becoming the 18th World Champion.

https://lichess.org/study/A5Jdubkh/SUWNZklO#104

"In the games where he [Ding] was completely in a losing position, he kept finding resources. Once I took the lead, he played an amazing game to fight back. After I lost the 12th game, it was a bit disappointing, but I was also getting inspired by my opponent. Any normal human being would have given up [after game 11], but the next day he came and completely destroyed me. He's a real inspiration for me,"

"Whatever words I have are not enough for my parents. Both my parents right from the start, the dream was bigger for them than for me. They are both sports lovers, they did not get the chance to pursue their passion in their youth. When I was born, they decided to support me. They went to such lengths to support me -- when I look back at it it's just crazy. I can't thank them enough."

"I've been dreaming about this and living this moment since I was 6 or 7. I have been living this moment for more than 10 years. Every chess player wants to live this moment and to be one of them is...the only way to express is: I'm living my dream,"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9JtcW_0Sr8