In December last year, Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju etched his name in chess history by defeating China’s Ding Liren to claim the World Chess Championship — a dramatic battle that nearly reached tie-breaks. With Norway’s Magnus Carlsen stepping away from classical chess and giving up his crown, Gukesh’s win marked the beginning of a new era.
In a recent interview on the Take Take Take chess app, Carlsen shared his thoughts on Gukesh’s title. “He topped the Candidates Tournament, beating some of the finest players out there. His classical performances over the past couple of years, including a phenomenal run at the Olympiad, speak volumes,” Carlsen said. “Is he the world’s best right now? That’s yet to be proven. But by our current standards, he is absolutely a deserving world champion.”
Gukesh made headlines not only for winning the title but also for breaking Garry Kasparov’s record, becoming the youngest ever at just 18. He’s now the 18th world chess champion since the title’s inception in 1886. Both Kasparov and Carlsen were 22 when they first became champions.
In his post-victory press conference, Gukesh humbly acknowledged Carlsen as the greatest. “Becoming world champion doesn’t mean I’m the best yet — that’s still Magnus,” he said. Gukesh expressed his ambition to remain at the top and hopes for a showdown with Carlsen one day, calling it the ultimate challenge.
Read Also: