Indian teenager D Gukesh made history as he was awarded the gold medal and trophy for winning the 2024 Candidates Tournament in Toronto, becoming the youngest player ever to challenge for the chess world championship. The 17-year-old prodigy expressed his excitement and disbelief at his achievement, stating that he had not fully anticipated winning the tournament but had remained positive throughout.
Gukesh revealed that the last three rounds of the tournament were the most challenging for him, as he realized he had a chance to emerge as the winner. Despite the nerves, he managed to maintain his composure and secure the victory. The young chess sensation received accolades for his remarkable performance, with little sleep over Sunday night due to his excitement.
In addition to Gukesh’s triumph, Indian chess player Koneru Humpy also claimed a joint silver in the Women’s section of the tournament, alongside China’s Lei Tingjie. The Women’s section was won by Tan Zhongyi from China. Vaishali Rameshbabu, another Indian participant, was praised for her impressive performance, winning five consecutive games in a row.
The tournament also saw joint silvers in the Open section awarded to Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi and American Hikaru Nakamura, who was Gukesh’s rival in the final round. The trophies for the tournament were sustainably crafted from reclaimed wood from city trees, adding a special touch to Gukesh’s memorable victory in Toronto.