2020: Gukesh – A New Star Rises
Hello, champions of the 64 squares! Welcome to the grand finale of our journey through time—“Great Players from 1950 to 2020.” It’s been an honor guiding you across generations of chess brilliance. Today, we arrive at a time that’s still unfolding—a story being written in real time.
The 2020s bring a fresh face to the chessboard, a symbol of India’s modern chess revolution. He’s fearless, intuitive, and already shattering records. Let’s welcome the future of chess:
Dommaraju Gukesh.
🌟THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA
In the silence of a generation longing for a new hero, a teenager from Chennai makes history. Gukesh becomes the youngest Indian ever to cross 2750. In fact, in August 2023, he became the youngest player in history to cross this rating barrier.
And just when we thought that was enough, he stunned the world by winning the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024, becoming the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand to achieve this monumental feat.
But the story didn’t end there—Gukesh went on to win the World Chess Championship 2024, becoming the youngest World Champion in history!
Can you believe it? The same country that gave us Anand is now seeing the rise of a prodigy who has conquered the world.
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🎯 Mini Game: If you were 17 and playing against Fabiano Caruana in the Candidates, what would your opening prep look like? Share your thoughts below!
WHO IS GUKESH?
Full Name: Dommaraju Gukesh
Born: May 29, 2006, Chennai, India 🇮🇳
Title: Grandmaster at age 12 years, 7 months (2nd youngest ever!)
Career-high rating (as of october 2024): 2794
Major Achievements:
- Won gold with India at the Chess Olympiad 2022
- Finished top 3 in the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss
- First Indian since Anand to win Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz 2023
- Winner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024
- World Chess Champion 2024
Gukesh isn’t just a stat—he’s an artist with fire in his soul and ice in his veins.
♟️STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
Gukesh plays with a dynamic style, combining sharp tactics with deep positional understanding. He’s not afraid to go into complications, but he also knows when to stay solid.
🧠 Think like Gukesh:
Let’s go interactive again.
🧩 Gukesh vs Rapport, 2022 – Black to move on move 25. Should you go all-in with ...g5 or build slowly?
Comment your move below—and don’t forget to explain your reasoning.
🥇RIVALRIES AND SHOWDOWNS
No modern prodigy exists in a vacuum. Gukesh has already crossed swords with the best:
Magnus Carlsen – Beat him in the Qatar Masters 2023!
Hikaru Nakamura – Blitz battles full of fireworks.
Alireza Firouzja – The Gen-Z rivalry we’re all watching.
🤔 Fun fact: Gukesh has one of the highest win percentages in elite tournaments among young players.
Here’s your challenge:
🔥 Gukesh vs Carlsen, 2023 – Guess the opening used and the key turning point. (Hint: It wasn’t a Berlin or Sicilian!)
🇮🇳THE TORCH FROM ANAND
From the Tiger of Madras (Anand) to this fearless Tiger Cub, Indian chess has passed the torch. Gukesh grew up idolizing Anand—but he’s paving his own path, with aggressive ambition.
🧩 Quick Quiz: Who was Anand's first World Championship opponent?
Gukesh represents the new India: fast, confident, and relentless.
📚 MUST STUDY GAMES
Game No. 1:
Gukesh vs Rapport, 2022 – A tactical slugfest.
Gukesh vs. Rapport, 2023
Game 2:
Gukesh vs Carlsen, 2023 – Norway Chess Blitz
Carlsen vs. Gukesh, 2023
Game 3:
Gukesh vs Abdusattorov, 2023 – Precision in chaos.
Gukesh vs. Abdusattorov, 2023 Tata Steel India Blitz
Game 4:
Gukesh vs Arjun Erigaisi – The ultimate Indian youth battle.
Gukesh vs. Erigaisi, Superbet Poland Blitz (2024)
🧠 Challenge: Recreate any of these games and play it against your engine. Can you match Gukesh’s decisions?
FROM PRODIGY TO CHAMPION
At just 12 years old, Gukesh became one of the youngest grandmasters in history. By 17, he had already won the Candidates. And now—he’s the World Chess Champion.
Let’s take a moment to admire the journey:
2018: Became GM at 12 years, 7 months.
2022: Helped India win Chess Olympiad gold.
2023: Beat Carlsen, won Tata Steel India.
2024: Won Candidates and World Championship.
His career trajectory is nothing short of breathtaking.
12 YEAR AGE TO CANDIDATE GLORY
Gukesh’s story is one of dedication, discipline, and passion:
Started playing chess at age 7
Became GM in 2018, narrowly missing Sergey Karjakin’s record
Dominated age-group events in India and globally
Known for his fearless preparation and willingness to take risks
Beat seasoned GMs like Aronian and Mamedyarov as a teenager
By the time he entered the Candidates in 2024, he was already viewed as a serious threat. He lived up to the hype and made history.
📊 CAREER STATS (AS OF APRIL 2025)
Total Classical Games Played: 290
Wins: 140
Draws: 110
Losses: 40
Win Rate: ~48.3%
Draw Rate: ~37.9%
Loss Rate: ~13.8%
These numbers are likely to keep climbing—as is his legacy.
💬 “Chess is about ideas, not just calculation.”
– Gukesh
How many of us learned that too late? 😉
🎯 YOUR FINAL PUZZLE (OF THIS SERIES!)
Imagine this: You're playing the last round of the Candidates.
A win sends you to the World Championship.
You’ve got White. Gukesh-style. 1.d4 or 1.e4?
📢 Comment your opening and why you chose it. Let's end this series with YOUR move!
🏁 WRAPPING UP: THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE JOURNEY
From Botvinnik’s scientific ideas to Gukesh’s historic triumph, we’ve explored 70 years of chess greatness together.
Each player we met shaped the game. Each era had its heroes. But the board remains the same—64 squares of infinite possibility.
A new generation is here.
And so are YOU.
Next series drops April 25th: “Chess and Life: Lessons from the 64 Squares.”
🎯 Stay ready. Stay learning. Stay inspired.
Until next time… Your move. ♟️
