Anand reflects on Gukesh’s journey with throwback photo after historic win

Former fivetime World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand took to social media to share a nostalgic photograph with a young D Gukesh celebrating the latters historic achievement of becoming the youngestever World Chess Champion Gukesh triumphed over Ding Liren in a thrilling Game 14 on Thursday evening securing the prestigious title and becoming only the second Indian to do so after Anand himselfAnand who had first met Gukesh as a child affectionately referred to him as the boy who would be king in his post recognising the immense potential the young prodigy had demonstrated even at that early age The boy who would be KingFIDE_chess WacaChess pictwittercomkN8eG7fijqmdash Viswanathan Anand vishy64theking December 13 2024Gukesh at just 18 shattered a 38yearold record held by Russian legend Garry Kasparov who became World Champion at 22 in 1985 With his victory Gukesh has now permanently etched his name into the annals of chess historyAlso ReadOld video of Gukeshrsquos dream to be youngest champion goes viral post win WATCHGukesh secured the requisite 75 points as against 65 of his Chinese rival after winning the 14th and last classical time control game of the match that seemed headed for a draw for most part As winner he will walk away with a whopping USD 13 million approx Rs 1103 crore from the 25 million prize purseI was dreaming this moment for the last 10 years I am happy that I realised the dream and made it into reality the softspoken Chennailad told reporters after the historic triumphAlso Read Cricketrsquos mental guru Upton now chess champion Gukeshrsquos secret weaponI got a bit emotional because I was not expecting to win But then I got a chance to press on he addedThe triumph was expectedly hailed across India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing it as historic and exemplaryThis is the result of his unparalleled talent hard work and unwavering determination Modi posted on XThe reticent teenager grinned widely and raised his arms in celebration after the victory a stark contrast from the poker face he usually sports while playingEven on Thursday when the analysts had proclaimed that the match in all likelihood would go into a tiebreaker Gukeshs face hardly gave anything away as he gained the upperhandIt was a momentary lapse of concentration by Liren in what seemed a drawn endgame and as it happened the entire chess world was left in a state of shockThe players were just left with a rook and a bishop and Gukesh had two pawns against one trying to make a foray without much successHowever the ability to keep pushing for more gave Gukesh a distinct advantage over the Chinese and the latter simply collapsed to give the title to GukeshBefore Gukeshs feat on Thursday the legendary Garry Kasparov of Russia was the youngest world champion when he won the title at the age of 22 dethroning Anatoly Karpov in 1985Gukesh had entered the match as the youngestever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this yearWith agency inputs