India’s rapid rise in chess, D. Gukesh, overcame one more obstacle before the World Championship.

India’s Chess Surge: D. Gukesh Clears Another Hurdle on Path to World Championship

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Omkar Devadkar

Last Updated: 2024-09-23 10:41:56

Summary: D. Gukesh, an Indian Grand Master, maintained his incredible rise ahead of his World Championship Final against Ding Liren, winning another individual gold medal at the Chess Olympiad 2024.

On Sunday, the nation witnessed one of the greatest days in Indian athletic history, and not just for chess. India had never won gold in 44 previous Chess Olympiads but won two in the 45th edition, held in Budapest, Hungary.

R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna all had excellent performances throughout the competition. However, the overpowering performances by D. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi made the Indian team essentially guarantee gold even before the final round began.

Grand Master D. Gukesh put on an incredible display at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, continuing his rise in the chess world. Gukesh led India to win a gold medal, India's first-ever win in the crucial biannual competition. Gukesh won 9 out of 10 games and the gold medal for himself on Board 1 with his incredible performance.

Gukesh displayed outstanding skill and maturity, qualities that have been highlighted throughout his young professional life.

Gukesh defeated Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran with the black pieces in the eighth round, using the Dubov variant in a queen pawn game. Gukesh's wins catapulted him to a live rating of 2785, placing him extremely close to the desired 2800 rating threshold.

This performance is especially vital given his age; if he surpasses 2800, he will become only the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, and the 16th player in chess history to do so.

Gukesh, who will face the Chinese star, is already considered a favorite by many in the chess world.

2024 has been a historic year for Indian sports. After an 11-year wait, India's men's cricket team won a global title. Manu Bhaker won two bronze medals at the Olympics, and the Indian men's hockey team won its second bronze medal in a row.