There has been a lot of seismic activity in Chase over the past few years. But an earthquake emanating from the epicenter – India – really shook the sport in 2024.
No one can deny that 2024 is the year of Indian chess. And also a great year of Indian chess on the chessboard.
It was a year that started with the candidate competition in Toronto. The candidates — if any player must pass the test to earn a shot at the world champion crown — can only accommodate eight players, who cut different, equally treacherous paths. Some make it through rankings, others through the FIDE circuit, and the rest by winning designated tournaments like the FIDE Grand Swiss.
It is designed to be difficult for candidates to qualify. Despite that, three Indians – Gukesh, Pragyanandha and Vidit Gujarathi – made the cut in the eight men’s field in the open category, while two women – Koneru Hampi and Vaishali Rameshbabu – were in the eight women’s field. It is still difficult to win, because it is an event where only the first things finish, so every match is a knife fight.
Gukesh navigated a field that was as green as Prague and mixed with veterans of the multi-candidate race, such as Ian Nepomniacci, Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura.
The candidate contest foreshadowed things to come. If Pragg won’t get you, Vidit will. If Vidit won’t, Arjun Arigaisi will. If that doesn’t happen, Gukesh has a situation to worry about. Former world champion Magnus Carlsen experienced this last year at the FIDE World Cup, where he triumphed, but not before he defeated both Gukesh and Prague.
“For years now, I am expecting to face Indians in every super tournament there is. And if you look at the youth levels, Indians are absolutely dominating. I am totally impressed with the chess revolution in India,” Carlson told The Indian Express earlier this year. “The current generation of Indians is definitely the strongest. And most dangerous.”
A reversal of India’s chess dominance
By winning the nominations, Gukesh became the youngest person in history to earn a shot at the world champion crown. In a span of 10 months, Gukesh once again made history by defeating Ding Liren in a 14-game encounter in Singapore.
“Chase is in a great place!” After Gukesh’s victory over Ding in the World Championship, chess legend Susan Polgar was announced.
(Left to Right) Indian Chess Masters Gukesh, Viswanathan Anand, R. Pragnandha,
Men’s Tata Steel Chess India Tournament draw at Kolkata on September 04, 2023. (Express photo by Parth Paul)
Hikaru Nakamura has revealed why he was cheering for Gukesh to win the World Championship race as a horseless neutral.
“When I look at the history of chess, I can’t really see any upside to Ding Liren winning, whereas, of course, in India, chess is very hot right now. So it would be huge if Gukesh wins. So, I’m definitely rooting for Gukesh to win against Ding. But be it him or Arjun, everyone is playing great chess now, and the future is very bright in India,” Nakamura told The Indian Express in October ahead of the World Championships.
If Gukesh has become the poster boy for this generation of Indians with his victory in Singapore, his arrival in Budapest was an epoch-making moment for an entire generation when they won the most medals on offer at an event featuring over 180 nations. . The open team won the gold by remaining undefeated in the Olympiad. Both Gukesh and Arjun also won individual gold. To make things even better, the women’s team also won the team gold with Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Aggarwal claiming individual gold on their boards.
Like Gukesh, Arjun has also chosen 2024 as his breakout year. He used unqualified heartbreak as fuel for Candidates to become the 15th player in history to touch the 2800 rating mark. This is a symbolic achievement that rates high among the goals of many elite grandmasters. However, Arjun shrugged only after reaching 2800 Mt.
This year too, Divya Deshmukh won the girls’ title at the FIDE World Junior Chess Championship in Gandhinagar, sending a message that the country could soon become its fourth female grandmaster. Divya was the youngest member of the Indian women’s team at the Chess Olympiad and won against established players like Harika Dronavalli and Vaishali even when they were not at their best.
As chess legend Garry Kasparov, the man who coined the phrase ‘India’s earthquake in chess’ noted earlier this week after Gukesh became the youngest world champion in history at the age of 18: “Gukesh’s victory is a milestone for India. Have a phenomenal year. With their Olympiad dominance, chess is back in its fold and the era of the ‘kids of the Vichy’ is truly upon us!
Why should you buy our membership?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be confused and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package