Who is D Gukesh whom PM Modi congratulated today?

Born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai, Gukesh was just 7 years old when he learned to play chess.

D Gukesh has created history by becoming the youngest-ever chess player to win the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 in Toronto on Sunday.

The 17-year-old chess grandmaster secured 9 out of a possible 14 points after drawing his final-round game against American Hikaru Nakamura.

Gukesh has become the second Indian to reach the World Championship final after Viswanathan Anand.

With the win, Gukesh also won a cash award of 88,500 Euros (approx Rs 78.5 lakh). The total prize fund of the Candidates was 5,00,000 Euros.

Congratulating D Gukesh on his achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X and wrote, “India is exceptionally proud of
@DGukesh on becoming the youngest-ever player to win the #FIDECandidates! Gukesh’s remarkable achievement at the Candidates in Toronto showcases his extraordinary talent and dedication. His outstanding performance and journey to the top inspires millions.”

India is exceptionally proud of @DGukesh on becoming the youngest-ever player to win the #FIDECandidates!

Gukesh's remarkable achievement at the Candidates in Toronto showcases his extraordinary talent and dedication.

His outstanding performance and journey to the top… pic.twitter.com/pfNhhRj7W2

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2024

Who is D Gukesh?
Born on May 29, 2006, in Chennai, Dommaraju Gukesh was just 7 years old when he learned to play chess. He has made many firsts.

Gukesh first gained recognition in 2015 after winning first position in the Under-9 division of the Asian School Chess Championships.

Gukesh’s victory in the World Youth Chess Championships in the Under-12 division in 2018 proved to be a turning point in his career.

At the Asian Youth Chess Championships, he also won five gold medals in the solo fast and blitz, team rapid and blitz, and individual classical formats for Under-12 players.

At the Delhi International Chess Meet in January 2019, Gukesh, then 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days old, became the second youngest Grandmaster in history.

Gukesh became the third youngest person to surpass the mark after Wei Yi and Alireza Firouzja in September 2022 when he got his first rating of above 2700 with a rating of 2726.

A month later, he defeated Magnus Carlsen in the Aimchess Rapid tournament, becoming the youngest player to do so, since the Norwegian became World Champion.

In August, 2023, he became the youngest player to ever achieve a rating of 2750, and a month later, he overtook Viswanathan Anand as the highest-ranked Indian player.

In the 2023 Chess World Cup, Gukesh advanced to the quarterfinals, but he lost to Carlsen.

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