New Delhi: Gukesh’s career has been phenomenal. He now becomes the youngest player to contest for the World Chess Championship, and the youngest to ever win the Candidates Tournament he just won. Thus, he is the first Indian challenger for the world title in a decade since Viswanathan Anand last played in 2014.
The championship is spread over three weeks, comprising 14 games and four rest days. Starting from November 25, matches will be held daily at 2:30 PM IST. Tie-breakers may require extending the tournament to December 13.
Gukesh is seen as the favorite, thanks to his incredible recent form. He shone at the Chess Olympiad, winning an individual gold medal with an exceptional rating performance. His opponent, Ding Liren, on the other hand, has struggled recently, going over 300 days without a win in classical chess.
While Ding is experienced and has been among the top players in the world for years, he will have a tough time adjusting to Gukesh’s aggressive play. Ding has won two out of their three classical games, with one drawn. According to Gukesh’s coach, “Ding is very good at calculation and remains calm when under pressure, even in difficult positions.”.
The prize money for the championship is a whopping $2.5 million. Each win in the regular games will bring $200,000 (₹1.68 crore). If the match goes to tie-breakers, the champion will earn $1.3 million (₹10.9 crore), and the runner-up will take home $1.2 million (₹10.1 crore).
This is also historic because it is only the second time the World Chess Championship is being held in Southeast Asia. With Magnus Carlsen stepping away from the title, the door is open for emerging talents like Gukesh and Ding to claim the crown.
As Gukesh sits down to the first game at Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa, he carries the hopes of a nation on his shoulders. His mentor, the grand master Viswanathan Anand, has cautioned him thus: “Be confident but cautious.” Gukesh will make history if he succeeds as the youngest undisputed world champion ever.
