Garry Kasparov reacts to Gukesh D's Candidates win: 'Indian earthquake in Toronto'

Garry Kasparov reacts to Gukesh D’s Candidates win: ‘Indian earthquake in Toronto’

17-year-old Indian Grandmaster Gukesh D scripted history in Toronto, Canada on Sunday after becoming the youngest winner of the Candidates tournament and also becoming the youngest World Championships challenger.

Gukesh bettered Garry Kasparov’s challenger record, set 40 years ago, and the former world champion reacted to the teenager’s victory on Monday, saying that the win was a further reflection of the changing trends in the world of chess and made a mention of how chess players from Viswanathan Anand’s academy had started to make the right noises.

“Congratulations! The Indian earthquake in Toronto is the culmination of the shifting tectonic plates in the chess world as the 17 year old Gukesh D will face the Chinese champion Ding Liren for the highest title. The “children” of Vishy Anand are on the loose!” Kasparov wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Gukesh played out an easy draw with American Hikaru Nakamura in the 14th and final round to finish with nine out of a possible 14 points in the tournament that is held to decide the challenger to the world champion.

Following the win, Anand also took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate the Chennai lad for the win, saying that he was “personally proud” of the achievement.

(With inputs from PTI).