The chess community went into a frenzy as it hailed India's D Gukesh as a potential "future world champion" afte🐭r he etched his name in the history books by winning the prestigious Candidates tournament in Toronto. ()
Gukesh drew with American Hikaru Nakamura in the final round to not only win the prestigious tournament but also become the youngest ever challe🐷nger to the world title at 17.
Five-time world champion and the only other Indian to win the Candidates, the legendary Viswanathan Anand was one of tꦯhe first 💙people to congratulate the teenager.
"Congratulations to @DGukesh for becoming the youngest challenger. The @WacaChess family is so proud of what you have done. I’m personally very proud of how you played and handled tough situations. Enjoy the moment," Anand wrote 🌸on 'X'.
Gukesh had become the third youngest player in history to earn the Grandmaster title at the age♍ of 12 and English grandmaster David Howell said he knew the prodigiously talented player would go on to do great things from the moment he played his first match agai🅷nst the Indian.
"Congrats to Gukesh on winning the Candidates!! What a tournament I knew he was special ever since our first game. He was just ꧃12 years old (but already a GM! ) While analysing, both his mature attitude and his calculation skills impressed me hugely. Future world champ?" Howell wrote.
Form🍬eܫr world champion and Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik of Russia congratulated Gukesh for his astounding performance.
"What an evening Congratulations to Gukesh and special award for both Fabi, Ian for their incredible performance today. One of the most interesting ga🦹mes I ever saw. Bravo, REAL FIGHTERS, for giving it all. Most important, more than anything in chess in fact Full respect," Kramnik wrote.
With the win, Gukesh bettered the legendary Garry Kasparov's 40 year-old record. The Russian great was 22 when he quali♐fied in 1984 to clash with compatriot Anatoly Karpov.
The Chennai-based teen will take on reigning world champion, China's Ding Liren, for the crown later this y♕ear.
Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy, who finished second in the wo🙈men's section, said "Congratulations to @DGukesh for becoming the youngest challenger!!"
Another Indian Grandmast💜er Tania Sachdev said Gukesh'🤡s win shows that "future is here."
"GUKESH WINS THE CANDIDღATES!! The future is here. It’s today. 22.04.2024 a date to remember It’s going to be Ding Liren⭕ vs Gukesh, World Chess Championship 2024" Sachdev tweeted.
Dronacharya award-winning coach RB Ramesh lauded the Indian's inspiring run at🎃 t♎he tournament.
"Hearty Congratulations to young @Gukesh for convincingly winning the Candidates. Inspiri𓆏ng performance! Whole India is proud of you!" Ramesh tweeted.
M🌜eanwhile, Azerbaijani chess grandmaster Teimour Radjabov was🎀 left spellbound by the teenager's achievement.
"@DGukesh congratulations, stun🐽ning! At any age, but at 17 years oldཧ… it is just WOW!" he wrote.
