Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh Makes History as Youngest-Ever World Chess Champion

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh made history by becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion at just 18 years old. His victory over defending champion Ding Liren in Singapore sent shockwaves through the chess world, with fans and experts alike praising his incredible achievement.

However, not everyone was quick to celebrate Gukesh’s win. Chess legend Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport, downplayed the significance of Gukesh’s victory. Carlsen criticized classical chess as the ‘worst way’ to determine the best player in the world, instead advocating for rapid chess as a more exciting and competitive format.

Carlsen’s sentiments were echoed by Armenian-American Grandmaster Levon Aronian, who also expressed his preference for rapid chess over classical chess. Aronian, a former FIDE World Cup champion and one of the highest-rated players in chess history, highlighted the potential for weaker players to neutralize stronger opponents in classical chess, leading to less exciting and dynamic games.

Aronian drew parallels between chess and combat sports like boxing and MMA, arguing that rapid chess offers a more thrilling and unpredictable experience for both players and spectators. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the competitive nature of the game and avoiding drawn-out, technical matches that can be perceived as boring.

As the debate over the future of chess continues, Gukesh’s historic achievement has sparked discussions about the evolution of the game and the potential for new formats to attract a wider audience. Despite the criticism from some quarters, Gukesh’s remarkable victory has solidified his place in chess history and inspired a new generation of players to push the boundaries of the game.